Fast food chain operator Restaurant Brands is relying on its new burger chain, Carl's Jnr, for growth in the business this year.
Overall sales rose nearly 4% for the first quarter and the company is expecting this to continue through the financial year.
Restaurant Brands opened its first Carl's Jnr store last year and expects to have at least eight outlets up and running during this financial year, including one at Auckland International Airport.
Chief executive Russel Creedy says the company would like to open between five and eight Carl's Jnr stores per year.
He says sales for Carl's Jnr are forecast to be larger on a store by store basis than at a matching KFC store.
"On a dollar for dollar growth Carl's Jnr will certainly contribute the biggest growth to the overall portfolio."
Mr Creedy says the company is working to ensure that in the future Carl's Jnr margins will match those of the well established KFC brand.
