US burger chain Carl’s Jr has officially opened on Australian stores, three years after announcing its plans to expand down under.
Aside from the United States, the business currently operates in Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Brazil, Russia and Demark, and is renowned for its controversial advertising campaigns that frequently feature scantily-clad women.
Speaking with Smart Company, CEO of Carl’s Jr Andy Puzder said that the company identified an opportunity in Australia via targeting our nation’s “hungry young guys”.
“Our research shows that the strong economy here, combined with our positioning and premium food offering complement what we’ve seen in New Zealand,” Puzder told Smart Company.
“Australia just feels like our kind of country.”
The company opened its first Australian restaurant this week in Bateau Bay on the NSW Central Coast. The February 2nd opening attracted over 300 patrons by noon including Matt Elseley, a Central Coast local who set up camp outside the venue on Sunday night in order to be first in line when the restaurant opened.
According to Puzder, the restaurant has plans to open 300 stores across Australia within the next 10 to 15 years.