American bistro TR Fire Grill coming to Malaysia, Indonesia

TR Fire Grill, a chef-inspired American bistro, is making its way to Malaysia and Indonesia with its artisanal culinary experiences, its first venture out of the United States.

Its franchisee for Malaysia and Indonesia, Grand Companions Sdn Bhd's CEO, George Ang said the company planned to invest about RM2.2 million in each of the TR Fire Grill outlets.

"By June or July 2016, we will have the first restaurant in Kuala Lumpur and it will be followed another two in Jakarta, Indonesia," he told Bernama in a recent interview.

He said for both Malaysia and Indonesia, TR Fire Grill would have pork-free menu.

TR Fire Grill was launched in March 2015 by Romacorp, which owns another American casual dining chain restaurant brand, Tony Roma's. Grand Companions is also the franchise partner of Romacorp for Tony Roma restaurants in Malaysia.

On the expansion for Tony Roma's restaurants in Malaysia, Ang said the company currently operates nine Tony Roma restaurants in Malaysia and planned to add four more with investments of RM2 million each.

"One new outlet will be opened in Vivacity Megamall in Sarawak and an additional three outlets in Peninsular Malaysia in the next two to three years," he added.

Grand Companions, he said was able sustain the volume of patrons for its Tony Roma's restaurants in Malaysia and expected to lock in sales of RM250 million by end-2015.

Meanwhile, Romacorp president and CEO, Stephen K. Judge, said Malaysia was one of the key markets for the US-based group.

He said the group is currently developing new brands to continuously cater to the fast-moving food and beverages market.