Denny’s, the US diner restaurant concept, has signed an agreement with Great China International Group (GCIG) for the development of 50 restaurants in southern China over the next 15 years.

GCIG has exclusive rights to open units in six Chinese provinces including Guangdong, Fujian, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Chongqing and Sichuan.

The development agreement is Denny’s first major expansion in China and is the brand’s largest international development agreement to date.

The company expects the first restaurant will open in 2013.

“We believe that the Denny’s brand will continue to grow around the world and are focused on finding additional strong partners like GCIG as we continue our global expansion efforts,” said Denny’s president and CEO John Miller.

GCIG is a Chinese-based enterprise with diversified business holdings in finance, real estate, commercial development, hotels, food service, television media, energy resources and port logistics.

“Today’s Chinese consumers are hungry for the variety, quality and value a brand like Denny’s represents around the world,” Sharon Huang, business director for GCIG, said.

Denny’s currently operates 1680 franchised, licensed, and company-owned restaurants across the US, Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, Honduras, Guam, Curaçao, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and New Zealand.

GB