TGI Fridays™ Signs Landmark Development Agreement with Devolli Group, Accelerating Global Growth with First-Ever Expansion into the Balkans

The agreement represents a significant milestone in TGI Fridays' international growth strategy and reinforces the brand's global momentum as it continues to scale through its franchise-first development model.

Read the original at Franchising.com
TGI Fridays™ Signs Landmark Development Agreement with Devolli Group, Accelerating Global Growth with First-Ever Expansion into the Balkans

TL;DR

TGI Fridays has signed a development agreement with Devolli Group to expand into the Balkans, with plans to open 10 restaurants across Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia. This agreement is part of TGI Fridays' international growth strategy, aiming to operate over 1,000 restaurants worldwide by 2030.

Global Expansion Plans

The agreement represents a significant milestone in TGI Fridays' international growth strategy and reinforces the brand's global momentum as it continues to scale through its franchise-first development model. As part of the partnership, Devolli Group will develop 10 TGI Fridays™ restaurants across the three markets and has secured exclusive rights to sub-franchise the brand throughout the territory, creating a platform for long-term expansion across Southeast Europe. The partnership lays the foundation for long-term growth across the Balkans, bringing TGI Fridays'™ bar-forward atmosphere, bold and craveable menu, and high-energy dining experience to guests across Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia.

This development agreement is the latest milestone in TGI Fridays'™ ambitious 1-2-3 Strategic Vision to operate more than 1,000 restaurants worldwide by 2030. Over the past nine months alone, TGI Fridays™ has accelerated its international expansion by signing new development agreements in Kenya and the Maldives, while extending strategic partnerships to drive continued growth across Peru, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, Greece, Cyprus and Spain. Collectively, these agreements have added more than 150 restaurants to the brand's global development pipeline, reinforcing the strength of TGI Fridays'™ international franchise network and demonstrating the continued global demand for one of the world's most iconic casual dining brands.

For more than 60 years, TGI Fridays™ has been bringing people together through great food, handcrafted drinks and unforgettable celebrations. The Balkans, with its rich tradition of hospitality, vibrant social culture and strong sense of community, represents a natural next chapter for the brand's international growth.

Balkans Market Opportunity

As one of Europe's fastest-growing tourism and hospitality regions, fueled by increasing international investment, modern retail developments and evolving consumer demand, the Balkans presents an exciting opportunity to introduce the iconic TGI Fridays™ experience to a new generation of guests across Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia. Beyond expanding consumer choice, the partnership is expected to create new employment opportunities, invest in local hospitality talent and contribute to the continued growth of the region's foodservice, tourism and visitor economy while bringing the unmistakable Fridays spirit to one of Europe's most dynamic emerging markets.

"The Balkans represent one of Europe's most exciting growth opportunities, combining entrepreneurial energy, a thriving hospitality sector and a culture that values gathering around the table. Those qualities align perfectly with what TGI Fridays™ has stood for since day one," said Phil Broad, Global President, TGI Fridays™. "Devolli Group is the right partner to introduce TGI Fridays™ to the Balkans.

Their market expertise, operational excellence and long-term vision give us tremendous confidence in what we can build together. This partnership not only expands our international footprint, but also advances our 1-2-3 Strategic Vision as we continue bringing the Fridays experience to new guests around the world."

"We are proud to bring TGI Fridays, one of the world's most recognized American casual dining restaurant brands, to Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia. This partnership reflects our commitment to investing in world-class brands and delivering exceptional hospitality experiences across the region. We look forward to building a strong, long-term business that creates new opportunities, develops local talent, and brings a globally recognized dining experience to our customers and communities."

The addition of the Balkans further strengthens TGI Fridays'™ European footprint, complementing its established operations in Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Norway and the United Kingdom. The agreement reflects the continued momentum of TGI Fridays'™ franchise-first growth strategy, expanding into high-potential markets through experienced local partners. Guided by its "1-2-3 Strategic Vision," the brand remains focused on accelerating global expansion while delivering the iconic Fridays experience with consistency, quality and local relevance.

As the brand extends its international activity, the partnership is described as a long-term commitment to supporting communities by delivering the Fridays experience to new guests. Because wherever TGI Fridays goes, every day should feel a little more like Friday.

In this story

This story was originally published in Franchising.com on September 8, 2026. Burnaze summarizes and links to the original reporting.

Read the full story at Franchising.com

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