Alshaya Group

The Kuwait-based operator bringing familiar brands to storefronts, restaurants and drive-throughs. Alshaya traces its Kuwait roots to 1890. Its group site reports 50,000 employees, 19 markets and 3,500 stores. It operates a mix of franchises, including Starbucks, H&M and Primark, across several consumer categories. A global brand may supply the name and product, while Alshaya builds the local retail operation. The network sits below PIH's reported 65,000-plus workforce and above Majid Al Futtaim Holding's 41,367. Its age also gives it the strongest tenure score in this selection. **Key stats** - 50,000 employees reported on the Kuwait group site - 3,500 stores reported on the same site - 19 markets - 1890 foundation **Advantages:** Second-largest disclosed workforce here; the longest operating history among the ten; multiple retail and food categories limit reliance on a single category. **Trade-offs:** Franchise rights depend on agreements with brand owners; outlet counts combine different formats; the workforce snapshot has no year-end date on the overview. **Best for:** Readers interested in how local operators expand international brands across markets. **Watch for:** A storefront in the network is evidence of an operating relationship. It cannot establish ownership of the underlying global brand. **Vote:** Would you rank a franchise operator higher if its stores reach more people than the brands a rival owns outright?