Columbia-based Candy Express Franchising Inc. should soon have more stores in the Middle East, after selling licensing rights to Kuwaiti firm for $200,000. The deal was initiated by the American CEO of the Kuwait-based Sultan Center Co. � which also owns supermarkets, restaurants and a fiber optics company � after he visited a Candy Express store in Atlanta. Candy Express already has several thriving stores in Saudi Arabia, said Joel Rosenberg, the company's President, who founded the business with his two brothers in 1989. Middle Eastern culture makes candy stores a natural success there, Rosenberg said, explaining that without alcohol, bars and movies, the main entertainment is shopping. Also, much of the family activity in those countries revolves around children, Rosenberg said. "So our concept fits very nicely into that culture," he said. The bright, colorfully decorated Candy Express stores offer 350 kinds of candy for bulk sales as well as more expensive boxed chocolate and fancier selections that are stored in refrigerated cases. Candy Express has franchises in 19 countries and 40 stores in the United States. Its agreement with Sultan Center includes the rights to build stores in Kuwait, Qutar, Bahrain, Oman and the seven small countries or the United Arab Emirates. Maryland's Office of International Business helped pay for Rosenberg's first trip to visit with Sultan Center officials. He plans to return to the Middle East this month to look at possible store sites.
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