Captain D’s Trawls for Franchisees in US and Europe

Captain D’s (Nashville) is planning to grow its network of franchisees both in the U.S. and Europe. In both efforts, the chain will be using an updated restaurant design that it recently debuted in San Antonio, Texas.

Captain D’s plans to introduce that new look in additional U.S. markets, including Florida, Ohio and Oklahoma.

“Our growth story is bigger than opening individual restaurants,” Chief Development Officer Brad Reed said in a news release. “We’re evolving the Captain D’s experience while staying true to what has made the brand successful for more than five decades. That combination is creating interest from operators who want to be part of the next chapter of Captain D’s, both here in the U.S. and internationally.”

Spearheading the chain’s overseas push will be the brand’s SVP of International Operations and Development Hair Parra, who will return to Europe this month to meet with prospective franchisees and explore opportunities in Italy, Spain and a further expansion in the United Kingdom, with Poland and France also being of possible interest.

Founded in 1969, Captain D’s operates 530-plus restaurants in 23 states. Its first units outside the U.S. opened within the past year or so in Toronto and in Broadstair, England (about 80 miles east of London) that’s the first of 20 units planned for the U.K.