Sbarro launches major expansion in Japan

Melville, N.Y. Quick-serve Italian restaurateur Sbarro said Tuesday it has outlined an aggressive expansion plan in Japan that includes the opening of 1,250 units.

Sbarro has partnered with JCI in a joint venture/franchise agreement that will see the expansion plan executed over a 20-year period. As part of the agreement, Sbarro and JCI announced the opening of the first restaurant at the Aeon Mall in Hinode-Machi, Tokyo.

The Aeon Mall location, which opened on Dec. 29, is the first of three Sbarro restaurant openings planned for Tokyo, with two units slated to launch during first quarter 2010.

"Working in tandem with the great team at JCI, we are poised to aggressively expand the Sbarro footprint throughout all of Japan," said Peter Beaudrault, president and CEO of Sbarro.

Sbarro operates more than 1,000 restaurants across 42 countries.