Panda Express, the nation's leader in Chinese fast-casual restaurants, debuted six new or remodeled university locations in 2005 and will continue its aggressive growth on college campuses in 2006 with more than 10 Panda Express university sites slated to open. The increase of university locations will help the company meet its expansion goals of 1,000 restaurants by the end of 2006, and their long-term vision of 10,000 restaurants. Panda Express currently has more than 750 fast-casual restaurant locations in 36 states.
Panda Express launched in 1983, and in 1988, its first restaurant in a non-traditional venue opened in a Vons grocery store. Since then, Panda Express has expanded into nearly 45 Vons/Pavilions/Safeway locations, three Giant Food stores, three government buildings, six airports, 16 casinos, six amusement parks, five sport complexes, and one library. The fast-casual chain has a goal to open 40 more restaurants in non-traditional venues by the end of 2006.
