Miami,(// BUSINESS WIRE //) -- Burger King Europe GmbH, a subsidiary of Burger King Corp. (NYSE:BKC), announced today the opening of the first BURGER KING(R) restaurant in the Czech Republic. This new market entry is an important step to accomplish the company's Central and Eastern European expansion strategy. The BURGER KING(R) brand now operates restaurants in Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and the Czech Republic.
Commenting on the market entry, Peter Robinson, president of Burger King Europe GmbH, said: "We are very pleased to announce our further expansion in Central Europe. It is part of our overall growth plan to increase our presence in both the existing European BURGER KING(R) markets and in strategic new ones. The expertise of our franchise partners in Central and Eastern Europe is crucial for the successful development of the BURGER KING(R) brand. We look forward to continued collaboration with these franchisees and to the entry into further new markets in the region."
The first BURGER KING(R) restaurant in the Eastern part of Europe opened in 1991 in Hungary. The BURGER KING(R) brand's entry into Poland in 2007 was also an important step towards the brand's expansion in the region. In accordance with the company's development plans there are 826 BURGER KING(R) restaurants in Central and Eastern Europe. The location of most of these restaurants in central business districts or large shopping centers strengthens the presence of the BURGER KING(R) brand in this region.
Referring to these new business opportunities Peter Robinson stated: "We are excited about introducing the great flame-grilled taste of BURGER KING(R) products such as the WHOPPER(R) sandwich to even more customers in Central Europe. Our customers appreciate the affordable prices for high quality food and exceptional service at BURGER KING(R)."
About Burger King Corporation
The BURGER KING(R) system operates more than 11,600 restaurants in all 50 states and in 73 countries and U.S. territories worldwide. Approximately 90 percent of BURGER KING(R) restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees, many of them family-owned operations that have been in business for decades. In 2008, Fortune magazine ranked Burger King Corp. among America's 1,000 largest corporations. To learn more about Burger King Corp., please visit the company's Web site at www.bk.com.
SOURCE: Burger King Corp.
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