O'Brien's signs £3m franchise

O'Brien's Irish Sandwich Bars has entered into a £3 million (€3

O'Brien's Irish Sandwich Bars has entered into a £3 million (€3.8 million) franchise agreement to open 30 outlets in Australia over the next five years. The agreement follows one made earlier this year with a Singapore-based company to establish 30 outlets in Asia. O'Brien's, established in Dublin in 1988, now has a presence in Britain, Germany and the USA. The founder, Mr Brody Sweeney, began franchising the business in 1994.

Three of the Australian sandwich bars are due to open before Christmas in Cairns, where the investors are based, with others planned for Brisbane and Sydney.

There are currently 60 outlets. Last year the business had an £8 million turnover but, with the addition of extra sandwich bars, this is set to double.