Buffalo Wild Wings entering India with Mirchi Group

Buffalo Wild Wings®, Inc. will now reach the sports hungry fans in India with the successful signing of a 15-location exclusive development agreement with Mirchi Group for the entire South India region. The franchisee - Mirchi Group - has committed to open the first Indian Buffalo Wild Wings in Hyderabad and Bengaluru within the next 12 months. After the launch of the flagship location, the franchisee will open multiple BWW restaurants across South India within the next 7 years.  “We are very excited to be working with Mirchi Group and bringing the Buffalo Wild Wings experience to India. We look forward to becoming a part of this dynamic Indian community,” said Tim Murphy, Vice President of International for Buffalo Wild Wings.  Mr.Sam Reddy - CEO of Mirchi Group said that “we do strongly believe in the BWW mantra of Wings, Beer and Sports. The Buffalo Wild Wings franchise will be amazingly successful in India due to its spicy and bold flavor profile in comparison with other Western brands. Buffalo, New York – styled spicy chicken wings will perfectly match our Indian palate. 

Additionally, Indians are Cricket fanatics along with global awareness and rapidly increasing fan following of other international sports - Soccer, NBA, Tennis, Formula One, etc.  It was an elaborate and very stressful 10-11 month process to secure the exclusive Franchise Development Agreement with Buffalo Wild Wings. We are very excited and grateful for this opportunity to be their first franchisee partner in India.”  Mr.Kedar Selagamsetty - Partner of Mirchi Group says “we have done extensive research in India about the viability of Buffalo Wild Wings and are very confident of the brand success hence we have aggressively committed to opening 15 restaurant locations across South India. 

We are now looking to open 12,000+ SF locations of BWW in prime free-standing space of Hyderabad and Bengaluru.”  Buffalo Wild Wings is a very popular American restaurant chain known for its draft beer and exciting sports viewing atmosphere. Their namesake Buffalo, NY-style chicken wings are served with a choice of multiple signature sauces and seasonings, which pair nicely with their extensive array of draft and bottle beer options. Buffalo Wild Wings is the recipient of hundreds of "Best Wings" and "Best Sports Bar" awards from across the country. Founded in 1982 by two friends in Ohio, USA, Buffalo Wild Wings has grown into a global restaurant brand with over 1,100 locations in the United State, Canada, Mexico and the Philippines.  Aside from its winning combination of chicken wings hand-spun in signature sauces and seasonings, the restaurant also offers burgers, sandwiches, salads, wraps, and more. Its restaurant design provides the ultimate sports viewing experience, while bringing the look and feel of a stadium into the restaurant. Gaming will also be in an integral piece of the puzzle, as Buffalo Wild Wings aims to connect their guests in multiple ways while visiting the restaurant.

Nando’s to open more restaurants in India

South African restaurant chain Nando’s is planning to open 12 more restaurants in India at an investment of around $12 million (about Rs.75 crore), taking the tally to 20 by the end of 2017.

“We plan to add 12 more Nando’s restaurants across India by 2017-end and will be investing around $12 million for the expansion. This does not include the land cost as the properties will be on a long-term lease,” Nando’s India Chief Executive Officer, Sumeet Yadav  said.

The new restaurants will be in Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai Mumbai and Pune, he added.

The company presently has eight restaurants with three in Delhi, two each in Punjab and Chennai and one in Bengaluru, he said, adding investments for the expansion would be funded by the parent company.

Commenting on the business model adopted for India, Yadav said: “All the new restaurants will be company owned as Nando’s believes in the long-term potential of India.”

Except for the three restaurants in Delhi that are owned through a joint venture with Janpath restaurants, the remaining outlets are company owned, he added.

The company was started in 1987 by two friends Fernando Duarte and Robbie Brozin with a restaurant in Johannesburg in South Africa. The chain currently has over 1,200 restaurants in 25 countries across five continents.

Arby's look towards India as the next growth market

Arby's, the second largest quick service restaurant sandwich chain in U.S. is looking to capture the palette-share of global food lovers. 

India is a focus country for Arby's, which has been serving innovative meat recipes for the past 50 years and is now 3,400 restaurants strong chain.

Founded in 1964, Arby's is the first nationally franchised sandwich restaurant brand with nearly 3,400 restaurants worldwide. 

The Arby's brand purpose is to "inspire smiles through delicious experiences." Arby's delivers on its purpose by celebrating the art of Meatcraft™ with a variety of high-quality proteins and innovative, crave-able sides, such as Curly Fries and Jamocha shakes.

 Arby's Fast Crafted™ restaurant services feature a unique blend of quick-serve speed combined with the quality and made-for-you care of fast casual. Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc. is the franchisor of the Arby's Brand and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA.

Arby's is looking to develop the Indian market through Master Franchise.

Oregano Restaurant Rolls Out Widespread Franchise Expansion Plan

The success of Oregano  in the midst of the burgeoning Dubai food market is simply a testament of its thriving business model and the market demand for great tasting authentic Italian cooking. In order to capitalize on this opportunity, Oregano has conducted a thorough franchise development program. As a result, Oregano franchise opportunity is now open to individuals and corporate investors who can repeat the success of Oregano in new market destinations worldwide.

Oregano restaurant was originally founded on the conviction that people all over the world experience the flavorsome recipes of Liguria – the culinary capital of Italy. It currently operates 6 restaurant outlets across prime locations serving healthy, delicious and authentic Italian cuisines to a wide range of dine-in, take-out and delivery Italian food lovers.

Mr. Joey Tawil, Head of Franchise at Oregano states, “Our primary goal is to share our passion for cooking thus giving all guests a taste of Liguria. We accomplish this through delivery of superior quality food and beverages while providing outstanding customer service and exceptional dining experience to every customer, every single day.”

“Oregano franchise endeavors to open 75 outlets in the next five years across target markets through organic growth and proven franchise strategy. Our initial focus is to recruit franchise investors across neighboring GCC countries and throughout the MENA region. Later, franchise units will be sold throughout emerging markets such as India, China and so forth. With a thriving business model and a solid franchising system, Oregano franchise ensures that franchisees are successful from the start,” he added.

Subway Opens South India’s 100th Restaurant In Mysore

Subway, the world’s largest submarine sandwich restaurant chain, opened its 100th restaurant in South India in Mysore. The restaurant is located on Gokulam Main Road.

“We are happy to be a part of the brand's growth in the country especially since the 100th store will be opening in the beautiful and historic city of Mysore,” said Rahul Bhalla, Development Agent, Subway Restaurants in the southern territory.

The milestone marks the strength and consistent growth of the Subway brand, which has opened more than 42,000 restaurants in 107 countries. Subway opened its first restaurant in 2001 in New Delhi and has since then been going strong with a network of 472 restaurants in over 70 cities. Subway restaurant has aggressive growth plans for the region, in line with the brand’s growth ambitions for India, according to which the chain plans to have over 500 restaurants by the end of 2014 and 1000 restaurants by the end of 2017 in India. 

Healthy food offerings, franchise based business model and consumer focus like adapting the menu according to the needs and demands of the operating market is the USP of Subway.

Berkshire Hathaway's QSR Chain Dairy Queen Seeks Partner For India Foray

US based ice cream and QSR chain, Dairy Queen is looking for a partner to foray into the Indian QSR market. The unit of Berkshire Hathaway’s is planning to open its burger chain in the country.

The company was said to be in talks with Reliance Retail Limited for launching its dairy business in the country, however the deal did not consummate.

Owned by Warren Buffet’s Berkshire, Dairy Queen has over 6000 restaurants in the United States, Canada and 18 other countries.

To start with, the Minneapolis based chain would be looking at opening 100 burger stores in the space dominated by McDonalds in the organized sector having a lion’s share of 75%. The unorganized sector accounts for 40% sales of the total INR 1 Bn market.

This would be its second attempt after its 2011 effort for the foray.

Dairy Queen joins other player including Burger King, Fat Burger Carl's Jr, Wendy's and Johnny Rockets that are seeking to gain a share of the country's QSR market pegged at INR 55 Bn in 2013.

Berkshire had acquired International Dairy Queen Inc. for $585 Mn in cash and stock in 1997.

The Indian QSR business has been one of the active sectors attracting a lot of PE/VC attention. Be it early stage or the ones in their growth phase.

American premium burger chain Carl's Jr set to enter India

Come April, Indians will have the choice to taste charbroiled burgers by Carl's Jr - a brand that has been endorsed by the likes of Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian and Padma Lakshmi.

California-based premium burger chain, Carl’s Jr, which is known for its signature line of charbroiled thick burgers and is among the top 10 quick service restaurants chains globally, is set to enter India, with the first outlet to be opened here by April next year.

The American fast-food chain has already signed a franchisee agreement with city-based Cybiz BrightStar Restaurants Pvt Ltd, owned by CybizCorp. Over the next five years, there would be at least 100 Carl’s Jr outlets in India, said Sam Chopra, group chairman and founder of CybizCorp The chain targets to open about 1,000 outlets across India over 10-15 years.

Carl’s Jr joins the race with the world’s second largest burger chain Burger King, which had formed a joint venture with private equity fund Everstone Capital last year to develop its presence in India and plans to open the first outlet soon.

Besides, its rival, Fatburger has already opened its first outlet in Gurgaon, near Delhi recently.

“It is a burger that is delivered in just three minutes after the order is placed. And, we deliver it fresh. Nothing is prepared before hand,” said Chopra, adding that he would, for the first couple of years, focus on the northern market. The chain would spend about $25 million (about Rs 150 crore) in the first five years in developing a presence in India.

CKE Restaurant Holdings, the parent company of Carl’s Jr, had already invested $1.5 million in India in consumer research, product development and tasting trials during the past three years, Chopra said.

“We target ticket size at Rs 400. We’ll not offer beef in India, and for the first time in Carl’s Jr history, vegetarian burger, with six varieties, will be introduced. Over the next few years, we may also look at taking vegetarian burgers to other countries,” Chopra said, adding that Carl’s Jr will not target the mass market. Sales of Rs 2.5 lakh a day an outlet would make the venture viable, he said.

Chopra believes that the time is right for a ‘premium burger quick-service restaurant’ such as Carl’s Jr to enter India. “As we are witnessing a burger revolution in our country, a parallel phenomenon that was witnessed in the pizzas and pasta category a decade back,” he added.

Besides India, Carl’s Jr has recently entered new markets like Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, New Zealand and the Bahamas.

Over the past decade and a half, a handful of quick-service restaurants have made a beeline for India, including McDonald's, Yum Brands - the owner of restaurants such as Pizza Hut, KFC and Taco Bell- and Subway.

US-Based Smoothie Factory To Open 90 Stores By 2019

Smoothie Factory, a US-based health and wellness cafe is planning to open 90 outlets by the end of 2019. Out of these 40-45 would be company owned and the rest would be franchisee run.  Around 50-60 of these will be bigger cafe formats spread between 1,200-1,500 square feet and the rest will be mini formats with an area of about 400 square feet. The company is looking forward to explore Northern and Eastern regions. It will open at places like Chandigarh, Jaipur and Kolkata.

Arjun Khera, Chief Brand Officer, Smoothie Factory India says, “We will start seeking able franchisees by October onwards. Each cafe format store will have an expected revenue of Rs. 15 lakh per month and the smaller ones would have around Rs. 9 lakh per month. We shall invest around Rs. 50 crore for setting up our company owned outlets in the next five years.”

Smoothie Factory started from Carrollton, Texas in 1996. Today it has a presence in 13 countries including USA, India, China, Vietnam, Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. The brand started its operations in India in September, 2013. Presently it has two operational outlets in India. The third one will be launched soon. All three are located in Delhi NCR. While the fourth and fifth outlet will be added by the end of March 2015. These shall also be in Delhi NCR region. All five are company operated.

Smoothie Factory offerings include real fruit smoothies, freshly squeezed juices, frozen yogurts, salads and waffles. The company is revamping its menu by launching shakes suiting Indian taste apart from serving tandoori options that allure the local people.

US Burger Chain Carl’s Jr To Make India Debut

California-based burger chain Carl’s Jr will be opening 100 burger restaurants in India through its franchise partner CybizCorp.

The development came to light following announcement of CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc, (CKE), parent company of Carl’s Jr, signing up a development agreement with India’s Cybiz BrightStar Restaurants Private Limited, owned by CybizCorp.

The initial agreement is for opening 100 Carl’s Jr. premium burger restaurants and CKE believes there is potential for more than 1,000 restaurants in India over the period of time. “We have been preparing for an entry in India for more than three years, and after substantial due diligence we decided to sign CybizCorp as our franchise partner in the country,” stated Ned Lyerly, President of International at CKE Restaurants.

“We see tremendous potential in the Indian market, and CybizCorp’s proven track record in the franchise sector in both real estate and F&B gives us great confidence in the partnership and our future success in the country,” he adds.

On this, Sam Chopra, Group Chairman and Founder of CybizCorp, commented, “The time is right for a premium burger quick-service restaurant such as Carl’s Jr. to enter India, as we are witnessing a ‘Burger Revolution’ in our country, parallel phenomena that was witnessed in the Pizzas and Pasta category a decade back. The advent of multiple brands in the premium burger category in the recent past bears testimony to this trend. After successfully managing the Master Franchises of some of the most premium stand alone outlets in the country, representing an iconic brand like Carl’s Jr will be an exciting proposition.”

Sbarro To Open 40 Outlets Pan-India

Sbarro, an American-Italian pizza restaurant chain, is planning aggressive expansion in North and East India. The company plans to open upto 40 outlets in the next five years in Delhi NCR, Punjab, Rajasthan, Kolkata and Gujarat at key strategic locations like malls, metro locations, airports, universities and tech parks. 

Setting foot in North India, the brand that specialises in New York-style pizzas and other Italian-American cuisine, recently launched its first outlet at Huda City Centre Metro Station, Gurgaon. JIFPL - Jyoti International Foods Pvt. Ltd, a leading company in the food supply chain/cold chain sector, is the Master Franchisee of Sbarro for North and East India. JIFPL started its services in 2003 as a Subway franchisee and launched its distribution and logistics services in 2005. Their clientele includes Subway, Chili’s, Krispy Kreme, and Starbucks. 

The Sbarro brand continues to expand in India largely due to our guests’ demand for our high-quality pizzas and Italian food, but also mainly because of our greatfranchise partners. With the support of our partners, India has proven to provide a solid foundation for our brand and we look forward to many continued successes,” said J David Karam, CEO and Chairman, Board of Sbarro LLC.

Speaking on the occasion, Akhil Puri, CEO, JIFPL said, “We aim to build a connect with our customers by promoting the "My Life My Slice" concept and by providing them with fresh and high-quality food at an affordable price.”

Suresh Talreja, MD, JIFPL also commented, “Our endeavour is to bring a fresh perspective to the Italian QSR segment by introducing the pizza-by-slice concept. We hope that the brand will create a niche place for itself in the consumer mind space.” 

Malaysian brand Marrybrown to expand food outlets in India

Sensing a growing demand for fried chicken, burgers in tier 2 and 3 cities Malaysian quick service restaurant chain Marrybrown will be expanding its foot print in southern India, said a top official.

Marrybrown will also be adding more dishes to its menu card mid-September, he said.

"We are seeing growth in smaller towns like Rajapalayam, Dindugul and other places in Tamil Nadu. We would like to leverage the first mover advantage by opening outlets in smaller towns in the southern states," Ajith, director, MGM Entertainments Pvt Ltd, the master franchisee for Marrybrown in India.

According to him, the chain is also open to have its outlets in hotels located in second or third tier towns.

"By the end of this fiscal we would like to increase our number of outlets to 75 from the current 48 (44 in Tamil Nadu, two each in Bangalore and Kochi). The expansion will be through a mix of owned and franchisee outlets. For every five franchisee outlets we will have an owned one," he added.

He said the investment needed in smaller towns is not high unlike what is needed to set up an outlet in major cities.

"People are aware of global brands in smaller towns. A major competitor brand is becoming generic in those markets," he added.

According to Ajith, the Marrybrown chain in India is not stuck to fried chicken and burgers but also offers flavoured rice and even biryani to cater to the local palate.

"We offer equal number of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes," Ajith said.

Speaking of the new launches, Ajith said the chain would added Muncheez (fried chicken with masala powder to the sprinkled separately), egg burger, corn cheese burger and corn cheese nuggets.

He said the masala powder comes from Marrybrown's headquarters in Malaysia.

"Most of the food innovations happen in Malaysian headquarters and we pick up what is suitable for our market," Ajith said.

However the Indian company's own launch was the Chicken Poppers, an idea derived from popcorn.

America’s FATBURGER To Enter India

FATBURGER, the all-American burger chain, is set all to have its presence in India by last week of August.  The first location in India will be Cyber Hub, Gurgaon. FATBURGER is foraying into India via a Master franchise deal with Vazz Foods Pvt. Ltd.  With over 155 locations around the globe, the gourmet burger franchise continues to bring its quality cuisine to fans worldwide. 

Due to the Indian cultural and taste preferences, FATBURGER has adjusted the menu by incorporating chicken and lamb burgers into its menu as well as placing a significant emphasis on vegetarian options. Several new menu items also use the traditional flavours and spices of India to give the FATBURGER brand an exotic twist, like the Amritsari Onion Rings. Another new addition is The Fat Greek, which uses a unique innovative approach to the classic burger with a juicy, tender lamb patty smothered in homemade tzatziki sauce.

An all-American, Hollywood favourite, FATBURGER is a fast casual restaurant that serves big, juicy, tasty burgers, crafted specifically to each customer’s liking. With a legacy more than 62 years, FATBURGER’s extraordinary quality and taste inspire fierce loyalty amongst its fan base.

Andy Wiederhorn, CEO, FATBURGER says: “Though FATBURGER is famous for its freshly made burgers, we have so much to offer our global fans in terms of variety and flexibility in our vegetarian and non-vegetarian flavour options.”

Mussarat Kang, Head Operations, Vazz Foods Pvt. Ltd says: “We had a lot of fun exploring new menu concepts for our first location, and we anticipate great success in sharing the FATBURGER standard of quality coupled with freshly made- to-order burgers with residents in the market. The Gurgaon location will also be complete with table service and a full bar.”

Nation’s Fastest Growing Pizza Franchise to Break Ground in India

Marco’s Pizza, the fastest-growing pizza franchise in the United States, recently announced its first franchise deal in India with plans to open 400 stores over the next 10 years.

Leading the expansion in India are DJ Patel and Monaliza Patel who have a combined 33 plus years of experience working in the pizza and franchise sectors. 

“We are thrilled to launch operations in an untapped market such as India with two phenomenal Marco’s Pizza area representatives native to the area,” said Bryon Stephens, President and COO of Marco’s Pizza. “We look forward to the expansion goals DJ and Monaliza have put in place in India, based on their sound market research, with their first store opening before the close of the year.”

Marco’s Pizza’s recipe for growth has been a culmination of a robust authentic product, a strong community image, and a mission to delight customers. As the only national franchise chain founded by a native Italian, Marco’s Pizza has carved out a niche in the industry as experts in authentic Italian pizza. With 500 locations strong and more than 1,500 new franchise deals signed in 2013, the company is on track to quadruple its store count in the coming 5-7 years.

LuLu International Group Acquires MENA Franchise of Galito's for F&B Division Tablez

Tablez Food Company, the F&B arm of LuLu International Group, has announced a franchise agreement with Galito's, a South African casual dining restaurant chain.
 
Galito's offers authentic flame-grilled chicken cooked to perfection using fresh and natural ingredients. Since its inception in 1996 in South Africa, Galito's has rapidly expanded its operations to develop a strong market presence in the rest of Africa and Canada.
The exclusive franchise agreement mandates Tablez Food Company (TFC) to develop the Galito's brand across the Middle East, India and Sri Lanka.

In the UAE, the Group is actively looking at strategic locations to open its outlets, and is set to launch its first restaurant in the country in the fourth quarter of 2014. TFC aims to invest over AED55 million towards the launch of 15 outlets in the UAE within next four years. In India, TFC plans to invest US$10 million to launch 10 outlets within the next five years

Shafeena Yusuff Ali, CEO, Tablez Food Company, said: "Tablez Food Company is continuously seeking to expand its portfolio by introducing world-class F&B brands that cater to the region's diverse culinary preferences. Our choice of partners is backed by a profound understanding of customer preferences, and we are confident that Galito's, an exceptional brand known for its healthy and delicious food options, will find a high uptake in the region."


Louis Germishuys, CEO - Galito's, said: "We are excited to partner with Tablez Food Company, which has in-depth knowledge and experience of the region's F&B scene and enjoys a significant international market presence. In our bid to provide customers with fresh made-to-order meals, we use the healthiest natural ingredients in our marinade and bastings at Galito's. We look forward to bringing our customised meal options to the Middle East's health-conscious diners." Galito's' entry into the Middle East is rooted in its core vision to emerge as a global brand in its category. The agreement with Tablez Food Company marks a significant step forward in its international expansion strategy.

India will soon become the largest overseas franchise for Domino’s Pizza

Jubilant FoodWorks, the company that operates a number of US brand-name restaurants in India, announced on Friday that they intend to make India the biggest worldwide market for Domino’s Pizza next to the US. Earlier in the week, India got its 700th Domino’s Pizza franchise, as Gurgaon welcomed yet another installation of the pizza giant. Jubilant FoodWorks, which also operates Dunkin’ Donuts and other such commercialized restaurant labels, told the Press Trust of India that the UK still leads India with 720 franchises, but says that the very small gap should be closed very soon.
Jubilant is also investing in a small number of high-output factories across India, at a cost estimated to be as high as Rs. 200 crore. Factories are going to open up in hot spots like Hyderabad, Nagpur, and Guwahati, with the latter being ready soonest. The Guwahati plant should be operational by September at the latest, while the Nagpur and Hyderabad facilities should open either towards the tail end of this year or early next year.
“In the last one year, Domino’s Pizza has aggressively strengthened its presence in tier II and tier III cities,” the company said in a press release. “The brand has constantly focused on winning a loyal customer base across India through its tasty Pizza offerings, unmatched delivery promise and warm guest service approach.”
The company also stated that “Domino’s Pizza India operations are the fastest growing operations in the Domino’s global system. The company also continues to be market leaders in the organized pizza market with a 67% market share in India (as per latest Euro monitor report).”
Jubilant said that it also plans to aggressively expand its Dunkin’ Donuts operations. The company opened 20 outfits over the last year, and just opened its first location in Mumbai. Jubilant said that the next major metropolis it has its eyes on is Bangalore, where it hopes to have a fully function Dunkin’ Donuts opened by the end of 2014. The Bangalore franchise will be the company’s inaugural excursion into south India, and will stand as a litmus test for future branches in Hyderabad and Chennai.

Canadian cafe chain Tim Hortons plans India foray

Tim Hortons, the largest quick-service restaurant (QSR) chain in Canada, is planning to enter the Indian market.Tim Hortons has been scouting for a franchisee partner.

“Over the last 4-5 months the Canadian cafe chain has been speaking to several people regarding a franchise agreement. They are yet to finalise on a partner but talks are in progress,” said a person privy to the development.

A global retail consultant working with several global cafe majors too confirmed that Tim Hortons has been looking for an India partner.

Another industry official also familiar with the development said the company is likely to adopt a similar franchisee strategy it did while entering Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations.

“They tied up with Apparel FZCO and the Dubai-based Apparel to expand in the Gulf market, so its likely that in the Indian market too they will be looking at a big franchisee partner of similar strength and standing.”

However, in an email response, the company said it did not have any plans at this time to expand into India.

Tim Hortons officials had earlier mentioned in 2010 that going ahead they will be looking at exploring new markets such as India and China, but will enter when they have a detailed plan chalked out.

Considering that the sales in the developed markets such as the US have been under tremendous pressure, it is not surprising that cafe chains are looking at nascent market, said retail experts.

Since the Indian cafe market is slowly becoming bigger, more players have been evaluating an India entry. The organised (or upmarket) Indian cafe market is estimated to have notched up sales of Rs1,246 crore in 2012 and the the figure is expected to bubble up to Rs2,222 crore by 2017, as per Technopak estimates.

Source : dna exclusive

First Krispy Kreme Doughnut Shop Set To Open in Delhi

Krispy Kreme (NYSE: KKD) announced today that it plans to open its first store in Delhi on Saturday, December 14, 2013. The new doughnut cafe will be the first of 35 planned Krispy Kreme stores in Northern India by Krispy Kreme's new franchise partner, Bedrock Foods Pvt., Ltd.

"We are excited to partner with Bedrock Food Company in taking the one-of-a-kind Krispy Kreme taste and experience to the people of Delhi," said Jeff Welch, Krispy Kreme President - International. "With our initial launch in Bangalore this past January, we have seen great acceptance of Krispy Kreme and our signature products by the Indian consumer. The opening this week of our first store in Delhi broadens Krispy Kreme's reach within India to the key North India market. We are confident that Manpreet Gulri's strong industry experience and knowledge of the Indian consumer will help make Krispy Kreme a loved brand in Delhi as we bring the melt-in-your-mouth Krispy Kreme experience to the market."

About Bedrock Foods Pvt., Ltd.
Bedrock Food Company Pvt., Ltd., a licensed franchisee of Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation for the North India region, is managed by Manpreet Gulri and Purwa S. Gulri. Mr. Gulri and the Directors of Bedrock Food Company Pvt., Ltd. also hold the development rights for Subway in parts of North, West and South India and manage approximately 250 Subway restaurants. In addition, they also have businesses in the human resources and recruitment industries in India.

About Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme (NYSE: KKD) is an international retailer of premium-quality sweet treats, including its signature Original Glazed(R) doughnut. Headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C., the Company has offered the highest-quality doughnuts and great-tasting coffee since it was founded in 1937. Krispy Kreme is proud of its Fundraising program, which for decades has helped non-profit organizations raise millions of dollars in needed funds. Today, Krispy Kreme can be found in approximately 810 locations in more than 20 countries around the world. Connect with Krispy Kreme at www.krispykreme.com.

SOURCE Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation

Fiesta's Pollo Tropical Now in India

Florida-based Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc. 's ( FRGI ) subsidiary Pollo Tropical, which mainly serves Caribbean foods, has finally unveiled its first franchised outlet in Delhi, the capital of India. The latest opening came in the wake of the signing of a development agreement with franchisee, Paramount Cuisines Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of the Paramount Group in Aug 2012.
The restaurant is strategically positioned in the popular shopping mall, DLF Place, Saket. We believe that Delhi is a strategic fit for entering the country as it is home to the country's many government organizations, IT firms, well-known universities and research institutes. With more than 50 shopping malls already in action and dozens under construction, Delhi remains one of the vital locations in India.
Delhi-based Paramount Cuisines will unveil nine more Pollo Tropical outlets in India by 2016. The restaurants will be located in Northern India, comprising several important locations like National Capital Region, Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana.
Both Pollo Tropical and Paramount believe that its chicken options will appeal to Indian taste buds. Additionally, the restaurateur's already-strong vegetarian offerings can successfully cater to the huge vegetarian population of India.
According to a report by the U.S. Commercial Service, the middle-income population in India is burgeoning and will grow tenfold by 2025. The growth in the income of the larger populace also makes India a lucrative investment proposition. Furthermore, the report reveals that Delhi is expected to be one of the world's largest metropolises by 2025 following the rapid urbanization.
Hence, these openings reflect the Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company's intent to make India one of the prime markets for international expansion. The strategy is likely to be successful because of the growing economy and under-penetration of quick-service restaurants as compared with saturated North American countries.
However, following the growing demand for American dining brands in India, other restaurateurs like Yum! Brands Inc. ( YUM ), Domino's Pizza, Inc. ( DPZ ) and McDonald's Inc. ( MCD ) are also making their presence felt in the country.

Manhattan Pizza Hires Sparkleminds to Roll Out International Pizza Franchises In India

Bangalore, India (PressExposure) October 25, 2012 -- Manhattan Pizza ( http://www.manhattanpizza.com )a U.S.A based restaurant group, with expertise in making gourmet pizzas plans its strategy to enter the Indian market. Manhattan Pizza is well-known for its award winning New York Style preparation of Pizzas and their entry into the lucrative Indian market seems opportune as the Indian audience has now matured to the authentic taste of Pizza.

In July of 2009 and 2011 Manhattan Pizza was voted as the best pizza by readers of the Washingtonian Magazine. This is an honour bestowed to only the finest dining establishments in the Washington DC area.Along with serving delectable NY Pizza,Manhattan also offer Subs, Salads, Sandwiches, Calzones, Souvlaki, Gyros and Pastas making the menu both extensive and scrumptious. When one enters a Manhattan Pizzeria they experience a little bit of Italy, a wee bit of Greece and Americana in the comfort of their own neighbourhood.

The Azar brothersstarted operations in 1997 and with several years of prior restaurant experience developed Manhattan Pizza into a neighbourhood "fast casual" pizzeria that is second to none. Ever since its start Manhattan Pizza's loyal customer base has grown exponentially. Manhattan has been serving delectable New York style pizza by combining the freshest, highest quality ingredients with authentic original Italian and Greek recipes for over a decade. The décor of the outlets are New York themed with wooden floors and a cosy ambience and sounds which currently is lacking in the Indian market where all the chains have a similar look and feel.

Jack Azar, Founder & CEO of Manhattan Pizza is eager to step into the Indian market and is confident of great response, "We don't feel like a monotonous Pizza chain and eating a pie at Manhattan is an experience around which memories are made, we are not just another Pizza joint, we are your friendly neighbourhood pizzeria where the food is always fresh and hot and the serving staff are always warm and jovial."

P.K. Goriparthi, Executive Director & Head of International Expansion for Manhattan Pizza had the following to say after completing an exhaustive tour across India in August 2012. "The timing looks optimum and the market still remains an open ball park even with the head start a few chains might have had. Wereceived very nice response already and see a lot of scope to grow not only in the tier I cities but also in tier II cities. I am optimistic and excited to bring Manhattan Pizza to India."

Landmark eyes $68 million plan to expand restaurant portfolio

Foodmark, the food and beverage arm of leisure and retail giant Landmark Group, is planning to have 100 restaurants in its portfolio by 2015. Having opened six new outlets in the past six months across the GCC, a further five new outlets will open before the end of 2011, the company said in a statement.

To reach 100 restaurants by 2015 Foodmark will invest in excess of AED250 million ($68 million), on top of the previously invested AED100 million to open the first 25 outlets.

Most recent openings include popular Italian chain Carluccio's in Kuwait and Qatar and Thai eatery Mango Tree in Qatar.

In addition to these, Foodmark's own brand Zafran has now opened in Kuwait, offering contemporary Indian cuisine, the company added.

The latest opening is in Dubai, with Chinese inspired Chi'Zen now open in Mall of Emirates following its growing popularity in Festival City.

Plans are in place to open an additional outlet in Doha, Qatar later in 2011, Foodmark said.

Naveed Dowlatshahi, general manager of Foodmark, said: "Foodmark's success in the UAE and GCC has been consistently growing year-on-year, and we continue the search for not only perfect venues and ideal locations but the ideal people to run those outlets.

"We are delighted to be launching the second and third Chi'Zen restaurants in Mall of Emirates and Kuwait, where our other outlets Mango Tree, Zafran and Carluccio's have already been extremely well received.

"It is an exciting time for us, and we look forward to developing the Foodmark brand significantly in the coming years."

Since forming in 2009, Foodmark now employs more than 700 members of staff across three countries.