DETROIT (AP) -- The Little Caesars pizza chain plans to open 400 restaurants in Japan over the next three years and 300 in Latin America.
Little Caesar Enterprises Inc., which already owns about 1,100 pizza outlets nationwide and franchises another 3,300, disclosed the international expansion plans Wednesday in a news release."We are building a global brand and are extremely excited about entering Japan, the fourth largest food industry market in the world," said Harsha V. Agadi, chief operating officer for Little Caesar Enterprises.
Little Caesars Japan, a Tokyo-based corporation, will operate the master franchise and company-operated franchises in Japan. Yoshiaki Tanaka, a former Ford Motor Co. executive, has been named its chief operating officer. The company recently opened four Little Caesars restaurants in Niigata.
Little Caesar abruptly closed 300 outlets this summer in Dallas, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Houston, Denver and other cities.
At the time, Agadi declined to discuss the privately held company's finances, other than to say its debt was among the lowest in the industry and its owners, Detroit sports magnates Michael and Marian Ilitch, remained committed to its future.
Last year, some franchise owners complained the fast-food chain was doing a poor job and the chain's "2-for-1" pizza deals make it hard to make money. There were also layoffs at Little Caesars corporate headquarters.