The popular Express Food Group (EFG) chain, which includes the Pizza Company, Swensen’s, BBQ Chicken, Dairy Queen and Costa Coffee, will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with specially packaged gift food packs and many other offerings, the company says.

EFG is Cambodia’s largest restaurant franchise operation.

Sorakphivorn Banaul, EFG marketing manager, said that the more than 33 branches of the five EFG franchises nationwide will celebrate Valentine’s Day with special offerings, making all the outlets attractive destinations on the day of love.

EFG has outlets in Phnom Penh, Ta Khmao, Sihanoukville, Battambang and Siem Reap.

“This annual event aims to share our love and gratitude to the people of Cambodia during the season of love, Valentine’s Day,” Sorakphivorn said. “It is a mark of respect to the people of this nation for being such loyal customers of our products.”

Apart from themed packaging, Sorakphivorn said that EFG outlets would also be presenting customers with gift coupons. “We’ve prepared many types of food packaging, including red roses, for our guests on February 14,” he said. “We’ve also prepared thousands of flowers and thousands of heart-shape balloons as complementary gifts for our treasured guests, who will have the chance to receive a coupon voucher valid for free food or drinks at selected outlets.”

According to Sorakphivorn, the themed packaging and complementary gift items would vary depending on the chain.

“At the Pizza Company, for example, there will be special Italian-themed Valentine’s sets that also include soda drinks, two pieces of fried chicken and other complementary items.”

He added that branches would also be contributing to the romantic atmosphere through candle-lit dinner tables, romantic songs and Valentine’s Day music. Swensens outlets, he said, would feature “coupon trees”, that entitle every customer who orders a dish to receive free food items at the same outlet, or a cup of cappuccino at the riverside Costa Coffee branch in front of the Royal Palace and Bak Touk outlet.

Meanwhile, at Costa Coffee’s outlets, “creamy coolers”, “brownies” and other complementary gifts will be offered, said Sorakphivorn.

UK-headquartered Costa Coffee has more than 2,400 outlets in 29 countries. It was established in Cambodia last year, and has already become a hit with Cambodian business people, government officials, students and foreigners alike.

Dairy Queen, which is US-headquartered and has thousands of stores worldwide, is famous, among other things, for its Blizzard offering, and will be presenting Cambodian customers with $3 discount coupons with the purchase of any Dairy Queen ice-cream cake.

Meanwhile, BBQ Chicken, Korea’s No 1 franchised chicken chain, will be showing its appreciation to customers with red roses and special Valentine’s Day food items.