Submarine Acquires Romanian Craft Burger Chain Vivo Fusion FoodBar

Submarine, the first Croatian chain of craft burger bars that has expanded its operations outside of Croatia, continues its international expansion with the acquisition of a majority stake in the Romanian chain Vivo Fusion Food Bar. Following a successful initial market entry in 2021, where it currently operates two restaurants in Bucharest, Submarine is continuing to expand its presence and laying the groundwork for planned regional growth.

Submarine began its operations in the Romanian market through direct investment of its own funds, and after achieving positive results in all business segments, it continues its expansion through the acquisition of a majority stake in the local craft burger chain Vivo Fusion Food Bar. This is a recognized leader in the Romanian market, with a current portfolio of six restaurants in Bucharest, two in Iași, and one each in Pitești and Brașov, with plans for new locations. After a year of intensive negotiations, the transaction between Submarine and Vivo Fusion Food Bar was concluded in December 2024, making Submarine the majority owner.

– The acquisition of a majority stake in Vivo Fusion Food Bar represents a significant opportunity in realizing our strategy for expansion in the Romanian market. We are connecting with an established local brand that shares our core values – excellence in quality, sustainability, and active contribution to the community. As an established market leader, Vivo Fusion Food Bar provides a strong foundation for further growth and strengthening our regional presence. With this acquisition, we accelerate our access to new markets and strengthen the foundations for long-term success and sustainable development,” emphasized Dragoljub Božović, CEO of Yellow Submarine.

The expected revenue from operations in Romania for 2025 is estimated at 12 million euros, with an anticipated number of around 782 thousand guests. Currently, approximately 150 people are employed in Romanian branches, and by the end of the year, the number of employees is expected to rise to 200. The total annual revenues from operations in Croatia and Romania are estimated at 30 million euros, and with more than 30 restaurants and 500 employees, sales of over three million burgers per year are expected.

– Submarine’s expansion into the Romanian market represents a key step in our strategy for regional expansion. In Romania, as well as in other markets, we have identified significant growth potential, which we will achieve through the opening of new locations and continuous optimization of business processes. Our mission remains consistent – to provide customers with 100% natural products of the highest quality, prepared from local, fresh ingredients, with a special focus on maintaining quality, caring for the local community, and our employees. This successful continuation of expansion in the Romanian market is just the beginning, and we have ambitious plans for expansion into new markets in the region,” stated Aleksandar Lazinica, founder and co-owner of Submarine.

The venture capital fund Prosperus Growth has been the majority owner of Submarine since December 2022, managed by Prosperus Invest, established in 2010. Through the CROGIP program, the fund has been supported by the European Investment Fund and the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development, securing 49.99% of the total capital. Prosperus Growth is focused on investments in companies with high potential for regional and global growth, with the investment in Submarine marking their first foray into the hospitality sector.