KFC launches its maiden restaurant in Mumbai

Mumbai, May 11: KFC, the chicken restaurant chain, today launched its maiden restaurant at Bandra in North West Mumbai at a glittering ceremony.

With this restaurant, the total number of KFC restaurants in India goes upto 15.

Apart from Mumbai, five KFC restaurants are in Bangalore, three in Delhi, two in Pune, and one each in Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Kolkata and its equity restaurant in Hyderabad.

''We arrived late in Mumbai as we wanted a proper location and Bandra is the perfect location for our restaurant,'' Indian sub continent, Yum!Restaurants International Managing Director Sandip Kohli, told reporters here today.

''Yum views India as a key strategic market with immense potential for future growth. A buoyant market environment will see KFC scalling its presence to more restaurants in the capital and launch across all major metros in the country through franchisee and self owned restaurants,'' he added.

KFC, founded by the legendry Colonel Sanders in the 1930s, have more that 12,300 restaurants in over 80 countries having a turnover of 13 billion dollars per year.

KFC is a part of Yum! Restaurant International (YRI) which also owns Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, A&W and Long John Silver's. YRI have over 33,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries.

Yum! Restaurants International Chief Marketing Officer Arvind Mediratta said ''KFC is an international brand with an Indian heart and has successfully adapted itself to local tastes and preferances and it will bring the unique flavour like- Original Recipe Chicken (made with colonel Sanders' secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices), the hot and Crispy chicken and the Zinger Burger.'' He said developed specially for India, KFC offers a range of veg products like the Chana cruch snacker an aromatic veggie pulao and steaming Makhani curry. The veg menu also includes the paneer wrap 'n' roll and the veg thali.

On the pricing strategy, Mr Mediratta said apart from the Chicken and Chana cruch snackers, KFC also offers wholesome meals like the Chicken and veg Thalis.

''Apart from this, international favourite 'chicken in bucket' a feast of sumptuous pieces of chicken in an attractive takeaway reusable bucket is also available,'' he added.

UNI