Mumbai, Beirut among 20 new Cavalli restaurants

After the success of his Dubai club, fashion designer Roberto Cavalli now hopes to repeat the formula around the world.

Lebanon-based Pragma Group, his partners in the Dubai hotspot, have signed a deal with the designer for five more clubs and 15 new Cavalli Cafes to be established over the next five years around the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and South America.

On the list are Beirut, Mumbai, Shanghai, Sao Paolo and Istanbul, while a new cafe is expected to open in Abu Dhabi.

Cavalli already operates two clubs in Firenze and Dubai, in addition to a Just Cavalli Club in Milan and three Cavalli Giacosa Cafés in Florence.

“I am extremely proud of the achievements of the clubs and cafes which carry my name and Cavalli Club Dubai represents probably the best interpretation of the lifestyle I have been creating with my fashion” Cavalli said in a statement released to media.“Together with the experience of the Pragma Group we will further expand the network of Clubs for entertaining my followers in some of the most important cities in the world."

Launched in early seventies, Roberto Cavalli Group is one of the most renowned “Made in Italy” brands. The group showcases its women’s and men collection “Roberto Cavalli” and the contemporary “Just Cavalli” collection during Milano Fashion Week.

This initial roll-out of the Cavalli brand will be financed through a fund dedicated to expanding Pragma Group’s lifestyle business. Pragma is reportedly pouring $150 million into the deal.

“We are making a substantial investment to facilitate this expansion and this is being conducted on the back of extensive research that has revealed a real hunger in the emerging markets for the branded lifestyle experience,"  said Joe Tabet, chairman of Pragma Group.

The first two-year phase of investment will see two Cavalli Clubs opening in two cities alongside another three cafés, introducing the Cavalli Club and Café concepts to five new cities overall. In the second phase, which is expected to last three years, an additional 10 outlets will be launched in similarly suitable cities.

Successfully opened little more than a year ago, Cavalli Club in the UAE will be used as a template for international developments.

While the entire venture will be conducted through Pragma Group’s lifestyle vertical, Pragma Lifestyle will take all opportunities for partnerships and franchising in key emerging markets.

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