BK Plans 1,000 Stores In China Within Seven Years

Burger King is setting its sights, and its crown, on China. On June 15, the burger chain announced that it will open 1,000 restaurants in the world’s most populous country during the next five to seven years. There are currently just 63 Burger King restaurants in China, compared with more than 1,400 McDonald’s outlets there. The Miami-based chain has more than 12,500 restaurants worldwide.

In this, its largest-ever multi-unit development deal, the chain is partnering with the Kurdoglu family, which operates TAB Gida—BK’s largest franchisee internationally, including 450 Burger King stores in Turkey—and private equity firm Cartesian Capital Group.

International expansion has been in the forefront this year for Burger King. Earlier this month, the company announced plans to open several hundred new locations in Russia; last year, it inked a similar expansion deal with a franchisee in Brazil.

In the past year, 80% of BK’s new stores have been in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The company went public earlier this month and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange. It last traded as a public company between 2006-10, before it was purchased and taken private by investment firm 3G Capital. Since its acquisition, Burger King has been overhauling its operations. In the U.S., the company is focusing on modernizing restaurants and expanding its menu with fruit smoothies, snack wraps and salads.