News

California Pizza Kitchen inks 15-unit franchise deal for Japan

February 13, 2006

LOS ANGELES — California Pizza Kitchen signed an agreement with WDI Corp. of Japan to open 15 CPK locations there within the next decade. According to a news release, the first will open in the fall.

"We have very successful restaurants in other parts of Asia and are excited about bringing the CPK brand to Japan," said Rick Rosenfield, co-founder and co-chief executive of CPK.

"This agreement allows us to bring California-style pizza to the masses and expand in a growing and strategic area," added Larry Flax, co-founder and co-CEO.

Tokyo-based WDI currently operates 194 restaurants including Tony Roma's, Hard Rock Cafe, Bubba Gump's Shrimp Co., Il Mulino New York and Grand Central Oyster Bar.