74 Business View - February 2015
have “tarnished” the brand, Karam insists it simulta-
neously cleared the way for a rapid recovery.
“It was constructive in the sense that it allowed us to
clean up the balance sheet, and it also allowed us to
close some unprofitable locations,” he said. “It really
allowed us to do what a reorganization should, which
is get the business strong so you can grow it again. We
are in the midst of really refreshing the brand. We re-
ally look at it as a new lease on life.”
Now, he said, the task shifts to reinvigorating growth.
Much of Sbarro’s recent expansion has been interna-
tional in nature, with 75 new stores opening in 2014,
following 68 in 2013 and 60 in 2012.
Meanwhile, the objective is to try and reverse a trend
of domestic stagnation in the U.S. over the same three
years, by doubling-down on its wheelhouse sites –
in malls, casinos, airports, travel centers, downtown
FRANCHISE
