P.M. BRIEFING : Alfreds International Beats Out Burger Giants in Race to China

Alfreds International Inc. said today it has secured the first American burger franchise in China, beating out such fast-food giants as McDonalds, Burger King and Wendy’s.

Company officials announced they have negotiated a 10-year agreement with the government to open five Fast Lane Burger restaurants in China.

The first restaurant will open in Beijing on May 1 diagonally across from Tian An Men Square and will occupy 9,000 square feet on two stories of an existing three-story structure.

The menu of the Beijing restaurant will include a one-eighth pound burger and a one-quarter pound burger, french fries, soft drinks and yogurt. The average cost of a meal at Fast Lane Burgers is under $2.

Alfreds International recently purchased the exclusive franchise rights to all of China from Fast Lane Burgers Inc., a Mesa company that operates restaurants in Phoenix and Mesa. Alfreds International was organized as a corporation specifically to organize, develop and operate the restaurants in China and Las Vegas.