BURGER KING opens first freestanding restaurant in Brazil

MIAMI, July 19 /PRNewswire/-- Burger King Corporation today announced the opening of its first freestanding BURGER KING® restaurant in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The new restaurant marks the Company's fifth opening since BURGER KING entered the country in November 2004. The restaurant features seating capacity for up to 260 people; it has both covered and open-air parking, an outdoor patio, as well as a mezzanine and private party room. Located on one of the busiest corners in the city, the restaurant will be open late on most evenings to accommodate those who frequent neighbouring nightspots. The BURGER KING brand has achieved exceptional results in Brazil, in most cases meeting or exceeding its projections since opening its first restaurant last year. Already, more than 1.5 million guests have been served in its four food-court outlets, which are located in popular malls throughout Sao Paulo. "Clearly, Brazilians have embraced the BURGER KING brand, its fire-grilled burgers and HAVE IT YOUR WAY® heritage, which set us apart from our competitors," said Julio Ramirez, president, Latin America/Caribbean Region for Burger King Corporation. "We are tremendously grateful to those guests who have given us their business and are looking forward to growing throughout Brazil." Burger King Corporation and BGK do Brasil, the franchisee consortium that olds the right to franchise BURGER KING restaurants in the state of Sao Paulo, will continue expansion plans by opening more restaurants in Sao Paulo. "With this fifth restaurant opening, we will meet the great demand Brazilians have demonstrated for the BURGER KING brand," said Luiz Eduardo Batalha, president of BGK do Brasil.About Burger King CorporationThe BURGER KING® system operates more than 11,000 restaurants in more than 60 countries and territories worldwide. Approximately 90 percent of BURGER KING restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees, many of them family-owned operations that have been in business for decades. Burger King Holdings Inc., the parent company, is private and independently owned by an equity sponsor group comprised of Texas Pacific Group, Bain Capital and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners. To learn more about BURGER KING, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.burgerking.com.source:Burger King Corporation