Vietnam Secures 25 Carl's Jr. Units

CKE Restaurants Inc. announced the signing of an exclusive development agreement with the Mesa Group to open 25 Carl’s Jr. restaurants in Vietnam. The Mesa Group was granted the development rights to open Carl’s Jr. restaurants throughout the country with the first Carl’s Jr. restaurant scheduled to open in Ho Chi Minh City in April 2010.

Mesa Group has operated a range of successful businesses in Vietnam, including distribution, food and beverage, media, and real estate development.

The 25-restaurant development deal is part of a greater development plan that CKE Restaurants has for the Asia region. In 2009, CKE signed a development agreement with Star Food F&B Management Co. Ltd. to open Carl’s Jr. restaurants in Shanghai and Beijing. CKE is now actively seeking to expand its presence throughout China and Southeast Asia. CKE operates Carl’s Jr. restaurants in China, Singapore, Malaysia, and American Samoa. Additional franchise deals in the region are also planned.

“We are very pleased to welcome Mesa Group Inc. as a part of the CKE team of operators,” says Andy Puzder, CEO of CKE Restaurants Inc. “Mesa’s expertise and knowledge of the Vietnamese market, along with their extensive experience in supply chain management, distribution, and real estate, make Mesa Group the perfect partner to bring Carl’s Jr. to Vietnam. The Carl’s Jr. brand has a loyal following in Asia and we couldn’t be more pleased than to introduce our great-tasting, premium, charbroiled burgers to the people of Vietnam.”

"We are very excited to launch Carl’s Jr. in Vietnam with our great partner CKE Restaurants,” says Ms. Luu Tuyet Mai, CEO of Mesa Group. “We are determined to make Carl’s Jr. the leading quick-service restaurant brand in Vietnam by providing premium, high-quality menu items, premium facilities, and exceptional customer service. We have aggressive growth plans for Vietnam with plans to open Carl’s Jr. in major cities over the next few years and pride ourselves in making Carl’s Jr. the destination of choice for consumers.”