BK Plans Bigger Footprint in Brazil

Brazil, host of the 2016 Summer Olympics, is going to be eating more Whoppers. Burger King Corp. has signed the largest multi-unit development agreement in its six-year history in Brazil with one of its newest franchisees, the Vierci Group. In addition to their current development agreement in the state of Santa Catarina, the Vierci Group now holds non-exclusive development rights for the state of Sao Paulo, the economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy and home to 40 million people. The Vierci Group is expected to open its first restaurant in Sao Paulo during the first half of 2011.

“We believe that Sao Paulo is a key market for the continued growth of the Burger King brand in Brazil and is an important piece of the company’s development strategy,” stated Iuri Miranda, BK’s g.m. in Brazil.

BK did not disclose an expected number of units it has planned for South America’s largest country. The burger giant currently has 1,136 restaurants in 28 countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean region.