Sphera Franchise Group, the largest food service operator in Romania, will open five Hard Rock Cafe restaurants in Brașov, Timișoara, Iași, Cluj and Chișinău. The expansion will be carried out over the course of five years, beginning in 2026.

“This partnership marks another milestone in our diversification strategy. By adding Hard Rock Cafe to our portfolio, we expand into lifestyle and entertainment dining, reinforcing our mission to offer iconic global experiences to consumers in our region. We are always looking to bring into Sphera ecosystem brands that are in line with our values and have a proven track record of profitability to support our long-term growth, and Hard Rock Cafe is a perfect fit,” said Călin Ionescu, CEO of Sphera Franchise Group.

Sphera Group has acquired the franchising rights to open restaurants in Romania and the Republic of Moldova from Hard Rock International, and it will carry out the plan through a new subsidiary, HRC Restaurants SRL, wholly owned by Sphera Franchise Group.

This development strengthens Sphera’s position as a leading player in the food service market by expanding beyond quick service and casual dining into a global lifestyle brand segment. The new subsidiary will oversee the roll-out of Hard Rock Cafe restaurants across five major urban centers, capitalizing on rising demand for international, experiential dining concepts in Romania and the Republic of Moldova.

Hard Rock Cafe is an internationally renowned brand, known for its combination of American dining and music memorabilia experiences. The brand has been present in Romania since 2008, with a flagship location in Bucharest’s Herăstrău Park.

This new partnership builds on Sphera’s proven strategy of diversification and portfolio expansion. Most recently, the Group announced the addition of the Italian brand Cioccolatitaliani, known for its premium chocolate-based products, with the first unit opened in Italy in 2025.

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About Hard Rock® 

Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies with venues in nearly 75 countries spanning more than 300 locations, including owned/licensed or managed Hotels, Casinos, Rock Shops®, Live Performance Venues and Cafes. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world’s largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia with more than 88,000 pieces displayed at locations around the globe. The Unity by Hard Rock™ global loyalty program rewards members for doing the things they love across participating properties. In addition, Hard Rock Digital spotlights the sports betting and iGaming experience with products remixed in the spirit of Hard Rock for players worldwide.

HRI has received numerous industry and destination awards across the travel, hospitality, gaming, entertainment and food & beverage sectors. HRI currently holds investment grades from primary investment-grade rating agencies: S&P Global Ratings (BBB-) and Fitch Ratings (BBB). For more information on Hard Rock International, www.hardrock.com or shop.hardrock.com.