As part of its long-term expansion strategy, California Pizza Kitchen Inc. has opened its first company-owned restaurant in China. The unit is located in the Sinan Mansions’ commercial area of the LuWan District in Shanghai.
An international office also has opened that will assist CPK franchise partners and support the company’s expansion in China.
“California Pizza Kitchen has been well received internationally, and we see a great opportunity to further expand in one of the most robust economies in the world,” said Rick Rosenfield, co-founder and co-CEO of California Pizza Kitchen. “The presence of company-owned restaurants and an international office will allow us to provide better support for our franchise partners in India, Malaysia, Dubai, and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region.”
CPK first made its presence in China in 2005. The company signed a deal in 2009 to expand throughout India.
The new store will feature a modern design, including an open-exhibition kitchen. The menu will highlight local tastes, with dishes such as Red Curry Duck Pizza and Spicy Voodoo Vodka Fettucine.
“We have always been known for our globally-inspired menu items,” said Larry Flax, co-founder and co-CEO of California Pizza Kitchen. “We are very excited about the new items we have created for the Shanghai menu and we look forward to introducing some of these items on our U.S. menu in the future.”
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