Kebabberia launches franchising after opening ten restaurants in Puglia

Kebabberia is opening its brand to franchisees for the first time. Founded in 2009, the Bari-based döner kebab chain has grown to ten company-operated restaurants in Puglia, southern Italy, and is now embarking on a new phase of development. Reported by L’Express Franchise on 27 October 2026, the news brings a brand with an established operating history into Italy’s franchise market, although its franchise network has yet to be built.

Seventeen years of company-operated growth, all in Puglia

The first Kebabberia restaurant opened in Bari in 2009. Since then, the group, owned by Ali Baba Srls, has expanded through company-operated restaurants, without using franchising until this point.

Its current estate comprises three restaurants in Bari and three in Taranto. The other four are in Andria, Altamura, Bitonto and Acquaviva delle Fonti. All ten are therefore concentrated in Puglia; the brand does not appear to have a presence outside the region yet.

The move into franchising marks a change of direction: the brand is being made available to independent entrepreneurs rather than expanding solely through company-operated outlets. It does not, however, amount to an announcement of scheduled openings. The development is that prospective franchisees can now apply, not that a franchise network is already operating.

Anyone assessing the opportunity should keep these two points separate. The seventeen years in business reflect experience in food service and restaurant management; they do not represent an equally long track record of supporting franchisees.

Planned support before and after opening

Kebabberia’s offer includes support beginning before the agreement is signed. The franchisor helps assess the premises and oversees fit-out work in line with its guidelines. Its team is also expected to work behind the counter during the opening days.

The stated support continues after opening, with a dedicated contact, marketing campaigns and menu updates. The proposed programme therefore covers both setting up the restaurant and some aspects of its subsequent operation.

For applicants, the practical task is to turn this list into commitments that can be checked. Before taking on financial obligations, it is worth clarifying which services are included in the agreement, how long the initial hands-on support lasts and how the relationship with the dedicated contact will work. These are points to explore with the brand, rather than additional services already announced.

Having the franchisor’s team on site during the opening days is one of the more concrete elements of the offer. Here too, understanding the arrangements and duration will help applicants assess how that support will fit alongside the work of the new restaurant’s staff.

Costs to be determined for each project

Kebabberia does not publish details of its initial franchise fee or ongoing fees. Its stated reason is that each project varies according to the premises and the work required. There is therefore no standard figure available for estimating the cost of joining the network.

The application form does, however, ask applicants from the outset to state their available capital and specify whether it comes from their own funds or external finance. Applicants must therefore give an indication of their financial resources at the first point of contact, while the terms of the offer need to be explored individually.

For anyone considering a franchise, the next step should be to obtain a written breakdown of initial and recurring costs. Any fees payable to the brand should be distinguished from the costs of the premises, fit-out and getting the business up and running. The capital declared on the application form should not be treated as an investment estimate.

Without published figures, the offer does not provide a basis for reliably estimating profitability or the investment payback period. Those assessments require specific financial terms and assumptions tailored to the individual restaurant.

Brand experience and checks for the first franchisees

Kebabberia’s entry into franchising combines a base of ten company-operated restaurants with a new relationship to build with franchisees. For those following the franchise market, it is a development worth watching, while distinguishing the brand’s experience from the maturity of its future network.

Preliminary discussions must also allow for the required pre-contractual disclosure period. Italian Law 129/2004 requires the prescribed documentation to be supplied at least thirty days before signing: time that should be used to examine the terms, obligations and details of the offer.

Practical advice: before committing, applicants should request a complete financial breakdown and a written description of the support provided. The ten company-operated restaurants are the starting point; the viability of a franchise must be assessed against the specific project.