US multi brand franchisor FOCUS Brands has announced the signing of Area Development Franchise agreements for eight new international markets in the first half of 2006: Aruba, Bonaire, Colombia, Curacao, Cyprus, Greece, South Africa, and St. Maarten/St. Martin. The group has also expanded four Area Development agreements in Mexico, Egypt, Jordan, and the Palestinian Territories, signed single-unit franchises for 75 locations in the USA, and opened 100 company-owned stores across the USA, Egypt, Indonesia, Mexico, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.

The openings have taken place under the group's, Cinnabon (bakeries), Seattle's Best Coffee (cafes) and Carvel (ice cream stores) brands, with the latter brand entering its first international market in several decades (South Africa). This expansion activity has brought the worldwide total number of FOCUS Brands stores to 1,300.

"Since the creation of FOCUS Brands in late 2004, our company has made great strides towards our goal of 5,000 successful franchise locations," says FOCUS Brands President and CEO Steve Romaniello. "Our results for the first half of 2006 prove that our delicious brands are in demand both by potential investors and hungry customers around the world."