European kitchen giant FBD opens 500th store

The French FBD group has reached a huge milestone by opening its 500th kitchen outlet in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

70 new stores in 2022

Ixina opened the milestone store in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, through master franchiser Al-Essa at the end of December. Annually, the group opens around fifty new stores, and FBD even wants to intensify its worldwide development, French trade magazine LSA writes. “Our ambition for the coming year is to continue to innovate and expand our network in France and beyond so that we can offer everyone the kitchen of their dreams and a seamless, omnichannel shopping experience”, CEO Loïc Paitel explained. The aim is to open 70 new stores in 2022, of which just over half will be in the French home market.

FBD group is said to be the largest kitchen franchisee in Europe and owns the brands Cuisines Plus, Cuisines Références, Ixina and Vanden Borre Kitchen. The group now operates across four continents and employs nearly 3,000 people. However, the main activity is in Europe, with 420 of its 500 stores. In 2021, the turnover reached 867 million euros, thanks to the 345 kitchens sold daily.