Barbados turns down U.S. franchise projects

Several fast-food restaurants in Barbados are riling over the intentions of two U.S. franchises of setting up shop on that Caribbean island.

According to local newspaper The Nation, American fast-food chains Subway Sandwiches and TGI Friday’s applied for operation licenses to the Barbados’ government. However, a group of local ham-swingers from such companies as Chefette, Pizza Man Doc, Chicken Barn and Pizzas aired their grievances before the island’s authorities.

The Hotel and Tourism Association, and Roy Trotman, secretary-general of the Barbados Workers’ League, also joined the complaint.

All of them maintain that the coming of foreign competitors could have negative repercussions for their businesses, hinting that some of them could even go belly up. Grumbling local companies say the local fast food industry is capable of providing residents in Barbados with top-rated services.