Pakistan native Tariq Fari, above, started Edible Arrangements in 1999. The franchise chain currently has 900 locations in the United States and in countries such as the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Italy and Hong Kong. Photo courtesy of Edible Arrangements

WALLINGFORD, Conn. – Edible Arrangements continues its blooming growth with a new deal that will take the chain to Turkey.

The Wallingford-based chain has signed an agreement with brothers Kemal and Emre Aydin, who plan to develop 15 locations throughout Turkey. The first location is scheduled to open in Istanbul next year and the remaining locations are set to be open over the next five years.

Started by Pakistan native Tariq Fari in 1999 in East Haven, Conn., Edible Arrangements specializes in creating fruit designs shaped like flower bouquets. The designs use fresh strawberries, pineapple, grapes, oranges, cantaloupe and honeydew. Arrangements are fresh and are available in a variety of styles and sizes. They are targeted for birthdays, weddings, thank you gifts, congratulations, sympathy and business-related uses such as events, client gifts and employee appreciation.

Each arrangement is made to order and can be customized with a jar of all-natural fudge and a special occasion balloon. All ingredients are natural and no preservatives or sweeteners are used. Arrangements come in several sizes and range in price from approximately $30 to over $200. There are close to 100 different options.

Currently, Edible Arrangements has approximately 900 locations with the goal to reach 1,000 units by 2010. According to the company, the recent Turkey deal is part of an aggressive growth strategy that includes expanding in existing markets and countries while continuing Edible Arrangements domestic growth in California, Texas, Arizona, Florida, Utah, Pennsylvania, Washington and New York. The chain is now present in nine countries outside of the United States and Puerto Rico, including the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Italy and Hong Kong.

Edible Arrangements has locations in 49 states. California leads the way with 109 stores; New York follows with 71; Florida has 60; New Jersey and Texas are next with 47 and 46 locations.

The company said it is also continuing to grow its existing franchise base through multi-unit-operator deals.

The chain's newest franchisees, the Aydin brothers, have a background in the florist business and IT. Emre Aydin owns one of the largest online florist businesses in Turkey. Kemal Aydin moved to the United States in 1995 and started his own consulting business in the United States, South Africa, Ireland and Turkey. The brothers will now focus on franchising with Edible Arrangements.

"My wife received an arrangement as a get-well gift and I was taken with the concept of beautifully arranged fruit designs and immediately knew that I wanted to expand this concept to our native country," Kemal Aydin said in a statement about the Edible Arrangements deal. "With my brother's experience in the floral industry combined with our expertise in customer service, delivery systems and the gift-giving industry we are prepared and eager to introduce the brand to Turkish market."

"We are excited to introduce Edible Arrangements to consumers in Turkey and welcome Kemal and Emre into our system," said Farid, Edible Arrangements' chief executive officer. "We see great promise in these cities and know our new master franchisees will be great ambassadors for the brand."

Edible Arrangements specializes in creating fruit designs shaped like flower bouquets. The chain features close to 100 designs that use all kinds of fruit, as well as chocolate and other sweets in some cases. Each arrangement is made to order. Photo courtesy of Edible Arrangements

Edible Arrangements specializes in creating fruit designs shaped like flower bouquets. The chain features close to 100 designs that use all kinds of fruit, as well as chocolate and other sweets in some cases. Each arrangement is made to order. Photo courtesy of Edible ArrangementsIn edition to its expansion, the chain also recently launched Frutation by Edible Arrangements, a grab-and-go concept offering customers fresh-fruit smoothies and juices, fruit and green salads, dipped fruit and a variety of other fresh-fruit products.

In 1999, when Farid launched the Edible Arrangements concept with his brother Kamran, fruit bouquets were not an unheard of concept. However, from the first East Haven store location to the some 900 current locations the chain has today, Edible Arrangements has become a giant in the fruit bouquet industry.

The second Edible Arrangements store was opened in 2000 and the first franchise location opened in Waltham, Mass., in 2001.

According to Farid, the company had considered franchising, but planned to take it slowly. However, the eventual Waltham franchisee saw an Edible Arrangements fruit bouquet and pursued the company doggedly, aiming to open a store. The passion for the product proved to be prophetic.

A second Edible Arrangements franchise opened in Atlanta in 2002. By the end of that year the chain expanded to half-dozen locations. By the end of 2003, Edible Arrangements hit the 100-store mark. The chain signed deals for 200 more stores in 2004 and 2005.

The chain expanded internationally in January 2006 with a store in the United Kingdom.

Farid has recently been honored as Entrepreneur of the Year by the International Franchise Association and Entrepreneur of the Year in the Metro New York region by Ernst & Young.

Since its inception, Edible Arrangements has earned many accolades from the industry, including its ranking as first in its category by Entrepreneur magazine's Annual "Franchise 500" ranking in 2007, 2008, 2009, as well as one of the magazine's "Hot 100" franchises in 2008. In addition, the company has ranked for three consecutive years in Inc. magazine's top 5,000 fastest growing privately held companies.

In 2000, Farid also started Netsolace Inc., a company that provides software for the franchise industry. Through Netsolace, Farid provides tools to help his Edible Arrangements franchisees run their businesses and also manage his chain.

Farid previously operated a similar software company, called Northeast Systems Group, which focused on flower shops. In 1997, he sold Northeast to Teleflora and worked for the flower-ordering and delivery-business for short time after the acquisition. He first came up with the idea of starting Edible Arrangements at Teleflora.

Born near Lahore in Pakistan, Farid's family came to the United States in 1981, when he was 11 year old. His family purchased a flower shop in Connecticut when he was 16 and he helped run the store while he was in High School.