Irish diner chain lands in Germany to kick off international expansion

The American-inspired chain is part of Rocket Restaurants Ltd (not to be confused with London-based Rocket Restaurants bought by Novus Leisure last year), a multi-brand restaurant group founded by Niall and Ann Fortune in 1989 as they opened their first restaurant, Eddie Rocket's. The company launched the Rocket’s restaurant chain in 2014.

The group signed a franchise agreement with Areas, part of global Elior Group, in January aiming to open 20 Rocket’s diner-style sites across Germany within three years.

The first international Rocket’s will open in Center Parcs in Baden-Württemberg in Germany in October.

“We are convinced that Areas is the ideal partner to establish Rocket’s on a long-term and sustainable basis in Germany,” says Fortune.

“Areas is experienced in building brand awareness and market share in a highly competitive but lucrative European market. Therefore, we have decided to cooperate exclusively with Areas as our partner in Germany”.

The group is looking to target sites in transport hubs and shopping centres as it expands.

It will serve the restaurant’s signature American-style diner food, including hamburgers made with Irish beef; chicken and turkey burgers; salads; chilli fries; and shakes.

Fortune expects the Rocket Restaurants group to comprise 80 sites across Ireland and Europe by 2020. It currently has 50 restaurants, 22 of which are company-owned and 28 of which are franchises.