Brazil Welcomes First Johnny Rockets Restaurant, The Brand's 100th Location Outside The U.S.

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Jan. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- After almost ten years in the making, it was announced that the first-ever Johnny Rockets opened its doors in Brazil, the largest country in South America and the 5^th largest country in the world, both by geographical area and population. The restaurant is located in the city of Guarulhos, a suburb of Sao Paulo city and minutes from the country's largest international airport, Guarulhos International Airport.

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Distinguished franchise partners Antonio Augusto Ribeiro de Souza and Nicolli Ciappina de Souza operate the restaurant at Shopping Internacional, a large retail center with a traffic density of 2.4 million visitors per month. The deSouzas are committed to open 29 additional restaurants in Brazil, within the next 10 years.

With three restaurants in Chile and two in Ecuador, the new Guarulhos Johnny Rockets brings the current total locations to six in South America. Providing timeless American food and fun for the past 27 years, Johnny Rockets now operates 100 franchise locations outside of the U.S., totaling 25 countries worldwide.

In a market that is seeing dynamic growth within the consumer foodservice sector – especially with chain outlets, Johnny Rockets appeals to Brazilians' insatiable taste for juicy American hamburgers made with 100% all-natural beef, crispy American fries served with the brand's trademark ketchup smiley face and hand-spun shakes and classic sandwiches.  Joining the menu in Brazil will be the Picanha patty, a prized cut of beef in the country, as well as additional salad and dessert choices, a "build your own" hamburger option and the introduction of natural juices (orange, apple and lemon), a widely popular cultural staple.

"We understand the market for eating out in Brazil and the 'family comes first' ethos embraced by South Americans," said master franchise partner Antonio Augusto Ribeiro de Souza. "Johnny Rockets offers a unique way for parents and children to spend quality time together over a delicious meal in an energetic and fun environment. Our commitment to providing that special all-American dining experience is unparalleled. We've even translated the Guest Promise into Portuguese so that all of our employees could memorize it!"

Guests of the new Johnny Rockets can expect high-energy servers that twirl straws and dance to timeless music from the decades-spanning jukebox, providing an interactive and family-friendly dining ambiance that local residents and area visitors may not have experienced before.

"Brazil represents a tremendous franchise growth opportunity for Johnny Rockets as we continue to expand internationally," stated Company President and CEO John Fuller. "With more than 205 million residents and nearly 20 million in Sao Paulo alone, we're able to capture a sizeable brand audience. With the world's seventh largest economy in terms of GDP, high consumer confidence and purchasing power and an affinity for our great-tasting American food - we've got all the ingredients for a successful partnership in Brazil."

Built with a bold architectural design and with careful partial preservation of the original Olivetti Factory it now occupies, Shopping Internacional is one of the largest malls in Brazil. It boasts hundreds of retail options, an indoor amusement park and the largest cinema complex in Sao Paulo. It is located in the district of Itapegica and can be easily accessed from the Presidente Dutra Highway.

The new Johnny Rockets restaurant in Brazil seats approximately 156 people in its 3,500 square-feet of retail space. Shopping Internacional is located at Rodovia Presidente Dutra, Km 225 in Guarulhos. Johnny Rockets is open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

For more information about Johnny Rockets and its franchising opportunities, please visit www.johnnyrockets.com

SOURCE Johnny Rockets