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Chuck E. Cheese’s Continues International Expansion with First Store Open in Panama

By: Chuck E. Cheese's |  19 Shares     259 Reads

Kids around the globe to receive hugs from Chuck E. at franchised locations.

DALLAS - April 24, 2013 - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Everyday, guests around the world gather at family entertainment leader Chuck E. Cheese’s stores to celebrate birthdays, special occasions and family-fun days with pizza, games and prizes. This year, families in Panama will get to experience the Chuck E. Cheese’s brand for the very first time now that the country’s first franchised store is open in Panama City, Panama. The location opened April 4 as part of a multi-year plan to bring several new stores to Central America.

“Chuck E. Cheese’s is very excited to pair with great business partners to create franchise opportunities all over the world,” said Roger Cardinale, president of CEC Entertainment, Inc.’s International Division. “The store opening in Panama is the latest example of how we strive to create investment opportunities that are not only beneficial for our partners, but also for the communities where our international stores are located. We want families from Detroit to Panama City to know the joy of a Chuck E. Cheese’s experience.”

Take for example the preferred developer in Panama, Juan Carlos Sosa, who has been working with Chuck E. Cheese’s for the past year on franchise plans. “Guests can expect to see the same value-priced meals, family games, and safe and clean environment in Panama that the Chuck E. Cheese’s brand has delivered for years in the U.S. and Canada,” said Juan Carlos Sosa, franchise partner. “In addition, because we are working with local manufacturers and vendors, the commitment to the Panama City community is very strong, which makes this a great business partnership.”

While the new Panama store is the first franchised Chuck E. Cheese’s to open in the country, it’s not the first international store to represent the family entertainment brand. CEC Entertainment, Inc., the parent company of Chuck E. Cheese’s, has been developing prosperous international franchise opportunities in Latin America, South America and the Middle East since 1986. There are currently 17 international franchise locations, including Panama City, in operation today. However, in 2011 CEC Entertainment, Inc. re-worked and updated its franchise plan to help business partners work with the company’s established development teams, implement successful business models and use additional Chuck E. Cheese’s games, creative content and branding material. The revamped plan was a hit and the company signed a record six agreements in 2012 to open 39 international stores in the next six years.

Part of the brand’s international success can be attributed to the family entertainment leader encouraging franchise owners to create connections with area manufacturers and vendors, which allow the owner to keep business inside the community. In addition, business partners can modify their menu offerings to fit the local taste, culture and traditions.

For Chuck E. Cheese’s franchise owners, Kristine Thompson and Joanna Rostant, this meant they could bring the world-famous Chuck E. Cheese’s brand to Trinidad. “We are thrilled to be opening several Chuck E. Cheese’s stores in Trinidad in the next few years,” said Thompson. “As female investors, Chuck E. Cheese’s is a brand we can trust to enhance the positive family entertainment environment in our country.”

CEC Entertainment is committed to continued international growth in 2013 and beyond. In February, Roger Cardinale was named as president of CEC Entertainment, Inc.’s International Division of Chuck E. Cheese’s. Since joining CEC Entertainment, Inc. in November 1986, Cardinale has managed the family entertainment leader’s purchasing, real estate, construction and gaming efforts. In his new role as international president, Cardinale will focus on driving the brand’s international development by adding new stores around the globe with a specific emphasis on Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.

About CEC Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: CEC)

For more than 30 years, CEC Entertainment has served as the nationally recognized leader in family dining and entertainment and the place Where a Kid can be a Kid®. The company and its franchisees operate a system of 562 Chuck E. Cheese’s stores located in 48 states and eight foreign countries or territories. Currently, 511 locations in the United States and Canada are owned and operated by the company. CEC Entertainment, Inc. and its franchises have the common goal of creating lifelong memories for families through fun, food and play. Each Chuck E. Cheese’s features musical and comic robotic entertainment, games, rides and play areas, as well as a variety of dining options including pizza, sandwiches, wings, appetizers, a salad bar and desserts. Committed to providing a fun, safe environment, Chuck E. Cheese’s helps protect families through industry-leading programs such as Kid Check®.

Chuck E. Cheese’s aims to promote positive, lifelong memories inside and outside of its stores. In addition to providing a fun entertainment experience for millions of families across the world, Chuck E. Cheese’s has donated more than $7.7 million to schools through its fundraising programs. For more information, see the company's website at www.chuckecheese.com.

Contacts:

CEC Entertainment, Inc.
Michelle Chism
972-258-5529
Director, Corporate Communications
MChism@cecentertainment.com

M/C/C for Chuck E. Cheese’s
Jennifer Reeves
972-480-8383 ext. 224
PR Engagement Manager
Jennifer_Reeves@mccom.com

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