Dallas – September 09, 2026 -- TGI Fridays has signed a development agreement with the Devolli Group to open 10 restaurants across Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia, marking the brand's first entry into the Balkans.
Devolli Group secures exclusive sub-franchise rights across three Balkan markets
Under the agreement, the Devolli Group will build 10 TGI Fridays locations and holds exclusive rights to sub-franchise the brand throughout Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia. The Kosovo-headquartered conglomerate operates across manufacturing, food and beverage, hospitality, retail and real estate, with thousands of employees regionwide.
Deal advances TGI Fridays' target of 1,000 restaurants globally by 2030
The Balkan agreement is the latest step in TGI Fridays' "1-2-3 Strategic Vision," which aims to reach more than 1,000 restaurants worldwide by 2030. Over the past nine months, the company has signed development agreements in Kenya and the Maldives, and expanded partnerships in Peru, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, Greece, Cyprus and Spain. Combined, these deals have added more than 150 restaurants to TGI Fridays' global development pipeline.
New markets add to existing European footprint in five countries
The Balkan expansion builds on TGI Fridays' established presence in Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Norway and the United Kingdom. The brand, founded in 1965, currently operates nearly 400 restaurants across almost 40 countries, supported by regional hubs in Dallas, Dubai and London.
Phil Broad, Global President of TGI Fridays, said the Balkans combine entrepreneurial energy with a hospitality culture centered on communal dining, calling the Devolli Group a partner whose market knowledge and operational track record support the joint venture. Devolli Group President Blerim Devolli said the partnership reflects the company's strategy of investing in globally recognized brands and building long-term hospitality operations across the region.
The rollout is expected to create hospitality jobs and invest in local talent across Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia as the companies build out the 10-restaurant network.