Villa Enterprises Management, a quick-service restaurant franchiser, announced on Friday that it exceeded its own projections for new store openings in 2009. With a total of 30 new locations opened in the U.S. and internationally, its total store count is now 318 units. This marks a 10 percent increase in new store openings over the 2008 fiscal year.

“We plan to continue the aggressive expansion of our great portfolio of restaurant brands in the U.S. and around the world,” says Anthony Scotto, CEO of Villa Enterprises Management. “While we are on our way to becoming a much bigger company, we will never let go of the family-oriented management style that has made us what we are today.”

Stand-out developments for 2009 included the following.

– June 2009: Villa Enterprises and its newest multi-unit operator, the international food service company Áreas, set a record by opening four new stores on the Florida Turnpike in just 7 hours.

– October 2009: Villa Enterprises wins a bid to open four new stores at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Centerplate, Prudential Center’s official concessionaire, serves as franchisee and operates each location as part of an exclusive multi-year sponsorship arrangement. Following an expedited three-day build out period, sales increases approximately 30 percent during the New Jersey Devil’s opening game as compared to the previous tenant of the same 2500 square feet of concession space.

– November 2009: Las Vegas Sands Corporation selects Villa Enterprises to take over operation and management of the entire 5770-square-foot food court at its Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. All five stores within the food court are now being transitioned to Villa brands.

Rounding out 2009 were new store openings at six airports, nine malls, and two international locations. The Company’s growth strategy will continue to be driven by expansion in high traffic areas and by offering consumers convenient and healthy meal choices in a fast-casual setting.