US-based Papa John's pizza chain forays in India

Noida, Jun 13 (UNI) The US-based pizza chain, Papa John's, today launched its first flagship outlet in the country here and revealed its plans to open three other outlets within this year in north India.

''The middle class here is growing at a fast rate and this is the right time for us to enter the Indian market. We have a target of setting up three more outlets this year in northern India,'' Papa John's International CEO Nigel Travis told reporters here.

On a poser to the company's India plans, the CEO of Papa John's franchise here, Mr Dan Deva said,''We plan to open 100 such outlets all over the country in the next 11 years. But presently our focus is on the north.'' On its strategies, the company's Vice President Myles A Felt said, the products have been localised keeping in mind the needs of the Indian customers. The flour will be imported from the US whereas the cheese will be procured from Pune.

Mr Felt added that their service will carry the ''essence'' of the parent chain and will maintain its signature quality to cater to the Indian customers.

Papa John's expects to have a prominent market share in India in the next few years, looking at the 15-20 per cent growth in the number of pizza outlets in the last 8-9 years.

Besides, the company looks forward to start its online ordering system in India, which has been doing well in the US.

The online system is getting popular since the youth are getting more inclined towards internet, Papa John's online business grew by 50 per cent last year, the company CEO added.

Papa John's, the third largest pizza chain the US, has a six per cent market share there with about 3,000 restaurants operating in 49 states and 20 international markets.

It has a small outlet/Quality Control Centre at Gurgaon which has been set up for training its staff and is being run on a pilot basis.

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