At its 2011 Global Business Conference last week in Dallas, Texas, Carlson Restaurants, parent of T.G.I. Friday’s, announced plans to double the number of T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants globally.

“With the strength of our Friday’s brand, our management team and our franchise partners, we are uniquely positioned to dramatically increase the footprint of our business,” according to Nick Shepherd, president and chief executive officer of Carlson Restaurants.

Focusing on its ambition to become the restaurant, employer and investment of choice by 2015, the company outlined detailed plans to accelerate growth over the next five years. It plans to use that growth as a springboard to achieve its long-term goal of doubling the footprint of the T.G.I. Friday’s brand around the world.

“Our foundation for growth is an organization-wide focus on enhancing all elements of the guest experience,” Shepherd says.

Central to that experience is Friday’s unique promise to its guests of “In Here it’s ALWAYS Friday.”

To reinforce its brand promise, Friday’s has embarked on an innovation program focused on its menu, service delivery and marketing. This focus has led T.G.I. Friday’s 2010 performance to be among the industry leaders. For the year, Friday’s outpaced the casual dining market in the United States by 1.6% as measured by Knapp Track.

The company’s international performance was especially impressive during 2010, delivering a 3.2% increase in comparable sales (local currency results for restaurants open at least 12 months) while opening 30 restaurants across its international markets and being on track to open nearly 40 new restaurants in 2011.

“Our performance during 2010 underscores the strength of the Friday’s brand and the tremendous growth opportunity we have, based on the significant and unique connection we have with our guests around the world,” Shepherd says.

T.G.I. Friday’s is already the casual dining leader internationally with more than 350 restaurants in 60 countries outside the United States.”