[Press release] Belgian crowdlending platform BeeBonds allows individual investors to invest in the development of Pitaya, the restaurant chain inspired by Thai street food.
- The aim is to raise €2.00m to participate in the opening of 70 restaurants in 7 years in the Benelux, including 30 in Belgium. Investors will lend their money to AlphaSeed, Pitaya's master franchisee in Benelux, for a period of 4 years, with a coupon of 8%/year;
- BeeBonds stands out in the crowdfunding sector for its dual financial analysis of the projects proposed to investors: that of its own team and that of a Big4.
Brussels, the 14 January 2021. BeeBonds is today opening its 10-day fundraising period to raise €2 million from private investors, with a view to contributing to the rapid growth of Pitaya, the restaurant chain inspired by Thai street food. Following the successful opening of the first 2 restaurants in 2020 in the midst of the health crisis, the aim is to open 30 in Belgium over the next 7 years, and a total of 70 in the Benelux countries.
Well-known in the property sector, the Belgian crowdlending platform BeeBonds, which is authorised by the FSMA, is opening up to the catering sector. With this new project, BeeBonds hopes to whet the appetites of its loyal investors and attract new ones.
Investors will lend their money to AlphaThaï Benelux, a subsidiary of AlphaSeed, Pitaya's master franchisee in Benelux, for a period of 4 years, with a gross annual interest of 8%.
"Our crowdlending platform brings together individual investors looking for an alternative investment in a project that is both tangible and attractive in terms of return, and companies looking for additional financing of between €500k and €5M in quasi-equity. Our added value is to provide access to projects usually reserved for professional investors, with the same quality of analysis. We apply an extremely advanced methodology for analysing applications, both by BeeBonds and by a Big4. We then closely monitor the progress of the projects financed. So far, out of the 22 projects already financed, we have zero defaults".
From Bangkok to Brussels, Liège, Antwerp and Ghent
Pitaya offers both traditional and creative cuisine, inspired by what you can find on the streets of Bangkok.
With woks prepared to order, fast service and an average bill of less than €15 p.p. including drinks, the concept is proving very popular, despite the health crisis. Following the opening of the first takeaway restaurant in Brussels in March, a second opened in Liège at the end of December. The next two are expected to open in Antwerp and Ghent in 2021.
"Pitaya was founded in Bordeau in 2010 by a man who loved Thailand. It's already a huge success in France and other countries, with more than 70 restaurants. We are convinced that this spicy, tasty, fast and affordable cuisine, based on vegetables and fresh produce, will also be a great success in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, our franchise area. We plan to open 70 restaurants in 7 years.
