CKE Restaurants to Expand in Vietnam

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CKE Restaurants Inc. said Thursday that it signed a development agreement granting a franchisee exclusive development rights to open Carl’s Jr. restaurants in Vietnam.

The Mesa Group plans to open 25 Carl’s Jr. in the Southeast Asian country, with the first location scheduled to open in April in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon. Mesa, with offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, was founded in 1991 as a distribution company and has expanded into food, beverage, media and real estate development.

The deal is part of a greater development plan that the Carpinteria fast-food chain has for the Asia region. CKE now operates Carl’s Jr. restaurants in China, Singapore, Malaysia and American Samoa. CKE franchises 340 international restaurants between both its Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s brands.

“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,” said CKE Chief Executive Andy Puzder in a press release. “The Carl’s Jr. brand has a loyal following in Asia.”

Shares were up 4 cents, or less than 1 percent, to $8.66 in midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

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