Franchising
California Pizza Kitchen to open 1st Canadian restaurant
July 20, 2022
California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) will open its first restaurant in Canada on August 1. The unit is located in Edmonton, Alberta, according to a press release.
Naheed Shariff and his mother, Samira, are the local franchisees. Shariff has 25 years of experience in the restaurant industry while his mother has more that four decades of experience. Together, Shariff and Samira have helped successful brands grow in the Alberta region.
"We were first introduced to California Pizza Kitchen in the mid 1990s and were immediately inspired by its culture and innovation. We're honored and excited to bring this iconic, forward-thinking brand to Canada for the first time, while simultaneously attributing to job creation here in Alberta," Shariff said in the press release. "CPK offers a fun, healthy, alternative experience that guests long for, and we're thrilled to offer Edmonton residents a taste of that. The brand's innovative, California-fresh cuisine combined with the benevolent culture of the people truly solidified the deal."
In addition to the menu for which CPK is known, CPK Edmonton will include an all-day breakfast with signature items.
As part of its commitment to give back to the community it serves, California Pizza Kitchen Edmonton has partnered with the Cross Cancer Institute to help raise funds for residents throughout Alberta who are battling cancer.
"The Shariffs are well-known and highly respected throughout Edmonton, and we are absolutely thrilled to partner with them as they lead California Pizza Kitchen into Canada for the first time," Giorgio Minardi, executive vice president of global and franchise operations, said in the release. "This milestone for our brand serves as a testament to the innovative business model we've created and will further propel our franchise growth efforts on a global scale. We're proud to welcome such experienced operators like Naheed and Samira and can't wait to see what the future holds for them as they bring our signature, California-inspired cuisine to the residents of Edmonton."
California Pizza Kitchen operates nearly 200 restaurants in eight countries and U.S. territories.
