The Indian fast food sector acquired a new US flavour with Denver-based global quick service restaurant (QSR) chain Quiznos entering the country by opening its first flagship store in Hyderabad, as part of its global strategy to sharpen focus on non-US market.

Quiznos, which has signed franchisee agreements for the southern and northern region, will be competing with Subway, which entered the country about ten years ago, and has a network of about 250 outlets today. Quiznos, like Subway, also serves sandwiches, salads and soups.

Its immediate plans are to set up 30 outlets in the South through its franchisee partner, Hyderabad-based Apollo Elixirs. “In the northern region, we have similar plans, while we are scouting for franchisee partners for the eastern States, including West Bengal,” Mr Lee Vala, International Chief Development Officer of Quiznos, told Business Line .

The Indian QSR market constitutes about seven per cent of the total restaurant market and is estimated to grow at 25-30 per cent, according to recent studies.

The QSR market is dominated by global brands such as McDonald's, KFC and Domino's, while players such as Starbucks are yet to set foot in India.

Global plans

Quiznos' India plans are part of its strategy to “more aggressively” expand its footprint in the non-US market, apparently prompted by the recessionary pulls in the US. After India, the global chain will be establishing its presence in Russia, Jamaica, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

Quiznos currently has about 4,000 outlets worldwide, out of which 650 are outside the US. “But this number will be growing exponentially in the coming years. We are looking at increasing our presence to 40 countries/territories from the present 30,” Mr Vala said.

He, however, said in India, the biggest challenge is logistics infrastructure, especially the cold chain network.

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