MADO signs master franchise agreement for Libya

MADO is preparing to enter Libya through an exclusive master franchise agreement with Alushibe Holding Group. According to Alushibe’s announcement dated 29 October 2026, the first phase envisages an investment of US$7 million to establish seven cafés and create 350 jobs. The agreement adds to the Turkish franchise sector’s overseas expansion activity, with the first opening planned for Benghazi in the first quarter of 2027.

Agreement signed in Kahramanmaraş

The master franchise agreement was signed in Kahramanmaraş on 13 October 2026 by Ahmed Gadalla, Founder and Chairman of Alushibe Holding Group, and Mehmet Sait Kanbur, Chairman of MADO. It grants Alushibe exclusive rights to develop and operate the MADO brand in Libya.

Alushibe’s announcement describes Libya as MADO’s 36th country. However, the published timetable makes clear that the first café in the country has yet to open, with operations scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2027. Signing the agreement and opening the first outlet to customers therefore represent two separate stages of the process.

For the Türkiye-based brand, the significance lies less in a single outlet announcement than in granting nationwide development and operating rights to a local partner. Under the announced arrangement, Alushibe will lead MADO’s expansion in Libya. The initial investment, café count and launch city provide concrete details of that country development plan.

Initial investment to start in Benghazi

Alushibe has announced plans to invest US$7 million in the first phase, targeting seven cafés and 350 jobs. The rollout is expected to begin in Benghazi before extending to Tripoli and other major cities. These figures are first-phase targets, rather than completed investments or existing employee numbers.

The first MADO is planned for a property owned by Alushibe in Benghazi’s Al-Hawari district. Covering more than 1,000 square metres, it is positioned as the brand’s first large-format outlet in Libya. The opening is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027; no precise date is given in the announcement.

Locating the first outlet in a property owned by the investor also highlights the agreement’s property dimension. However, its size should not be taken as a standard format for all seven cafés. The floor area of more than 1,000 square metres refers only to the first Benghazi outlet.

Similarly, the US$7 million figure is presented as the total investment planned for the first phase, not the cost of a single café. Dividing that total by seven to calculate a standard outlet set-up cost would go beyond the information disclosed. No individual location costs or investment breakdown have been provided.

Second location’s timetable extends to 2028

The second location identified in the announcement is planned for District Mall, which Alushibe is developing in Benghazi. The project covers 53,000 square metres in total, including 25,000 square metres of gross lettable area. The shopping centre is expected to open in 2028, with MADO intended to be one of its main attractions.

The announcement therefore sets out two distinct locations and timetables: the Al-Hawari outlet, targeted for the first quarter of 2027, and a second outlet in District Mall, which is due to open in 2028. It would be incorrect to assume that all seven first-phase cafés will open by the first outlet’s launch date; the announcement provides no such completion schedule.

The MADO agreement is the first step in Alushibe’s wider food and beverage brand strategy. Through its retail and destinations division, the holding company says it aims to bring 12 international brands to Libya by 2028. The plan covers coffee, bakery, casual dining and quick-service restaurant concepts.

The group describes the platform for these brands as a portfolio spanning three shopping centres, three hotels and more than 215 retail units across Libya. Those figures do not represent outlets allocated to MADO; they describe the infrastructure supporting Alushibe’s broader brand development plans. The announced first-phase target for MADO remains seven cafés.

Training and delivery timetable will be key

The 350 jobs targeted in the first phase are expected to cover café operations, supply chain and management roles. According to Alushibe, Libyan teams will receive training to MADO standards before each opening. The announcement therefore addresses pre-opening operational preparation as well as investment and outlet numbers.

For Türkiye’s franchise sector, the agreement offers an example of international expansion that brings together country rights, a local investor, property planning and staff training. The first tangible test of delivery will be whether the initial Benghazi outlet opens within the announced timeframe.

Practical takeaway: Brands and investors assessing a similar master franchise agreement should distinguish total investment targets from individual outlet costs, and country development plans from confirmed openings. The first milestone to watch here is the Benghazi opening planned for the first quarter of 2027.