California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) will open its first location in Canada in Edmonton, Alberta in August.
CPK is in the midst of an aggressive effort to take on new franchisees and expand the brand. Fueling the expansion is CPK Alberta CEO Naheed Shariff, who brings more than 25 years of experience in the restaurant franchising industry, and his mother Samira, CPK Edmonton franchisee with four decades of experience. Together, Naheed and Samira have helped successful brands grow in the Alberta region and are excited to bring California Pizza Kitchen into Edmonton.
"We were first introduced to California Pizza Kitchen in the mid-1990s and were immediately inspired by its culture and innovation. We're honored and excited to bring this iconic, forward-thinking brand to Canada for the first time, while simultaneously attributing to job creation here in Alberta," said Naheed. "CPK offers a fun, healthy, alternative experience that guests long for, and we're thrilled to offer Edmonton residents a taste of that. The brand's innovative, California-fresh cuisine combined with the benevolent culture of the people truly solidified the deal."