Burger King Entering Japan

MIAMI-Burger King will enter Japan, opening its first store, in Tokyo, some time during the first half of next year. The expansion marks Burger Kings first unit in Japan in five years, according to published reports from that country.

Two Japan-based firms, the Lotte Group and Revamp Corp., will be overseeing the fast-food chain’s expansion into the country. “Japan presents significant opportunities for Burger King and is important to our international development strategy,” says John Chidsey, CEO of Burger King Corp., in a statement.

In a November presentation to investors Burger King management highlighted Japan as a market with great growth potential and pointed out that competitor McDonald’s has nearly 4,000 units there. Other Asian countries the company has targeted for growth are China, Malaysia and South Korea.