TGI Fridays has signed a development agreement with Devolli Group to open 10 restaurants across Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia, marking the brand’s first expansion into the three markets. Devolli Group also secured exclusive rights to award subfranchises throughout the territory, creating a platform for longer-term growth in Southeast Europe. The deal is part of TGI Fridays’ franchise-first strategy and its 1-2-3 Strategic Vision to operate more than 1,000 restaurants worldwide by 2030. The company said agreements signed during the past nine months in Kenya and the Maldives, alongside partnerships supporting growth in Peru, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, Greece, Cyprus and Spain, have expanded its global development pipeline by more than 150 restaurants. TGI Fridays said the Balkan partnership is intended to broaden consumer choice, create jobs, invest in local hospitality talent and contribute to regional restaurant, tourism and visitor-economy growth. Phil Broad, Global President of TGI Fridays, called the Balkan region a major European growth opportunity and said Devolli Group’s market knowledge, operational expertise and long-term vision made it the right partner. Blerim Devolli, President of the Devolli Group, said the group was proud to bring the American casual-dining brand to the region and intended to build a long-term business that supports local talent and communities. The expansion adds to TGI Fridays’ existing European presence in Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Norway and the United Kingdom. Founded in 1965, TGI Fridays has almost 400 restaurants in almost 40 countries and is supported by global hubs in Dallas, Dubai and London, as well as regional resources in selected markets.