PHOTO: CONCRETE PLAYGROUND
An Australian fast food empire that began as a modest charcoal chicken shop next to a train station could soon make its husband-and-wife owners a fortune as they explore the possibility of a sale.
In 1997, Lebanese immigrant Andre Estephan and his sister Samira opened their first shop in Granville, Western Sydney, before Andre and his wife Carole launched El Jannah. Today, the couple oversees a thriving fast food business with 35 locations across New South Wales, Victoria, and the ACT.
El Jannah’s roots trace back to the family’s original store, where they served traditional Lebanese-style charcoal chicken that quickly became popular with customers from the nearby train station. Word spread throughout the suburbs, and the Estephans’ business grew.
Now, their success is attracting attention from global investment banks, including Morgan Stanley, as they consider potential sale options. While El Jannah hasn’t formally hired advisers, CEO Brett Houldin has reportedly been in talks with potential buyers. Houldin, who previously ran Craveable Brands, which owns Oporto, Red Rooster, and Chargrilled Charlies, is looking to leverage El Jannah’s strong brand presence and growth potential.
El Jannah’s estimated value exceeds $50 million, partly due to its growing number of locations and strong branding. Houldin has even expressed ambitions for El Jannah to expand to 300 or possibly 500 sites within the next decade.
El Jannah’s husband-and-wife duo Andre and Carole Estephan are pictured inside a store
El Jannah is now a fast food juggernaut with 35 locations in NSW, Victoria and the ACT after its humble beginnings as a single store beside a train station (a branch is pictured)
The Estephans’ journey began with the 1997 opening of Awafi, their first charcoal chicken shop in Granville, where they served high-quality, Lebanese-style chicken. In 1998, Andre and Carole decided to branch off and start El Jannah, which means “heaven” in Arabic. The business quickly rose to prominence, competing fiercely with other local chicken chains.
Today, El Jannah continues to expand, with new locations planned for regional NSW, Melbourne, and beyond. The Estephans hope to continue growing their empire with a vision of national and potentially international expansion.
SOURCE: THE DAILY MAIL