Focus Brands opens Cinnabon–Carvel in LibyaFocus Brands opens Cinnabon–Carvel in Libya

Mark Brandau

Focus Brands International Inc. reportedly brought the first U.S. restaurant brands to Libya earlier this month after the debut of its co-branded Cinnabon and Carvel location was delayed several months by the Libyan civil war that ousted former leader Muammar Gaddafi.

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Before the start of the Libyan revolution in February 2011, Focus had been working for two years on securing the restaurant’s location in Tripoli and finding the local franchise group. The conflict formally ended last October when Gaddafi was captured and killed.

Brothers Arief and Ahmed Swaidek opened the Cinnabon–Carvel location as fran...