New York-based chocolate bar brand Max Brenner International has signed an international franchise agreement that will bring the cafe concept’s Chocolate Bars to Japan.

The agreement was made with Tokyo-headquartered Transit General Office Inc which also owns, develops and operates Bill’s, Australia’s well-known breakfast restaurant, specialty restaurants and cafes and other commercial food and beverage facilities.

Max Brenner offers “the ultimate chocolate experience”; a place for people of all ages to experience chocolate in all its forms. Guests are encouraged to see, smell, taste and touch chocolate.

Max Brenner has more than 40 Chocolate Bars in Australia, the Philippines and Singapore. Its Chocolate Bar Restaurants, which combine the pure Chocolate Bar experience with a savory menu, number six in Israel and one each in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia and Las Vegas.

The move into Japan underscores Max Brenner’s active identification of experienced, multi-location franchise partners to facilitate expansion of the brand to more people internationally.

“We look forward to working with Transit General Office, whose enthusiasm for our brand combined with proven experience will help us to extend Max Brenner to chocolate lovers around the world,” said CEO Sam Borgese.

“Japan is an ideal country for our brand given their increased consumption of, and appreciation for, all things chocolate.”