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India foray: Mr Harsha V. Agadi, CEO, Church’s Chicken, at the launch of the outlet in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

Our Bureau

Hyderabad, Sept. 10 After KFC and McDonalds, it is the turn of Texas Chicken, the chicken fast-food brand of the US-based Church’s Chicken, to tap the burgeoning fast-food market opportunity in India.

The company has kicked off its Indian operations by opening its first outlet in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Harsha V. Agadi, Chief Executive Officer of Church’s Chicken, said that the company, which had a network of 1,600 outlets in 20 countries, has plans to open at least 300 outlets in the next 10 years.

The company would take the franchisee route to expand its presence in the country. In Andhra Pradesh, it has appointed the Srinivasa Hatcheries (SH) group to set up the stores in the State.

Mr Agadi said that the group might get nod to have exclusive rights to open the stores in several States.

Of the 1,600 outlets of Church’s Chicken, the company owns 250 with the rest being given to the franchisees in the respective countries. About 425 stores are outside the US.

Though the brand contains the word ‘chicken’ in its name, about 50 per cent of its menu are vegetarian items.

According to Mr Zack A. Kollias, Senior Vice-President (International), the company would first focus on the major metros for expansion, before spreading out to other cities.

More Stories on : New Products & Services | Hotels | Food & Dairy Products

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