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Top 100: Panda Express No. 20

July 9, 2012

Panda Express

Rosemead, Calif. / No. of units: 1500

Under the guidance of founder Andrew Cherng, who opened the first Panda Express in 1983, the concept has achieved explosive growth, particularly in the last decade, as unit counts tripled from 500 to 1,500, blanketing 42 states. The company is just beginning to tap into the international market with the 2011 opening of its first Panda Express restaurant in Mexico City. The chain remains private and family owned, with no franchised locations, and annual revenues expected to exceed $1.5 billion in 2011. The company has returned $22 million to communities through its Panda Cares program, which helps meet the health and education needs of underserved children.