• January 6, 2009

Carl's Jr. is planning some Texas-sized growth in the Lone Star State.

The CKE-owned chain, which now has just 16 franchised restaurants in the state, said it would open at least 121 more in the next 10 years under an agreement with franchisee RWJP Star Enterprises.

The new restaurants will be located in the Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Tyler/Longview and Beaumont markets. Carl's Jr. also opened three company-owned restaurants in Texas in the past year, and said it would open more in the San Antonio and Austin markets during the coming year.

Overall, Carl's Jr. said it has now entered into a total of 18 franchise development agreements during fiscal 2009, which ends Jan. 31. Those agreements call for 375 new restaurants, with 144 outside the U.S.--including Carl Jr.'s first units in China, Pakistan and Kazakhstan.--Les Luchter