American fast food chain Burger King will debut in Cambodia with first outlet to open at Phnom Penh International Airport in November.

AFC Company, Burger King’s local franchise holder in Cambodia, said it will expand the burger chain to Phnom Penh city after some time of operation at the airport.

“We have a plan to enter the city but first we must find a location. There are many burger and pizza places right now in Phnom Penh, so it’s difficult to find a good place,” said Somuch Sovary of AFC Company.

Sovary added that Burger King’s expansion to Cambodia was prompted its success in neighbouring countries like Thailand and Vietnam.

Burger King will join the array of fast food restaurants in Cambodia including KFC which has 10 outlets, Lucky Burger and Dairy Queen, which also opened first Cambodian store at Phnom Penh International Airport.

Express Food Group general manager Tep Virak said competition in Cambodian fast food market will heat up with the entry of international fast food chains such as Burger King. Express Food Group is a company focusing on food franchise business in Cambodia and Laos. It brought The Pizza Company to Cambodia in 2005 and America’s premium ice cream brand Swensen in 2007.

“Competition is going to be tougher when more international brands come, but I believe that we can still be competitive,” Tep Virak said. “We are well-prepared. We’ve built a good foundation to step on.”

Virak estimates Phnom Penh’s fast food market is worth US$40 million year, 5.3 per cent of the city’s total annual food expenditure worth US$744 million.

GB