'Whopper' of an expansion

SETTING its sight on China, Burger King said it would open 1,000 restaurants in the country over the next five to seven years.

It is the latest international expansion for Burger King Worldwide Inc, which said would grow its brand presence in China through a new joint venture with the Kurdoglu family, an established franchisee which runs 450 Burger King restaurants in Turkey, and private equity firm Cartesian Capital Group.

The world's second largest hamburger chain has more than 12,500 restaurants worldwide, including 80 in China (compared to 1,400 for McDonald's Corp). In the past year 80% of its new stores have been in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.