Denver-based global Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) chain Quiznos is looking at more aggressively expanding its footprint outside the US, apparently prompted by the recessionary pulls in the US.

As part of this strategy, Quiznos, which set foot in India by opening its first flagship store in Hyderabad on Thursday, will be foraying into Russia, Jamaica, Philippines and Sri Lanka in the next few months. “We are close to concluding franchisee agreements in these countries and hopefully we should have our first outlets there in the next two to three months,” Mr Lee Vala, International Chief Development Officer of Quiznos, told Business Line.

In India, the quick service chain is looking at opening at least 200 outlets in the next five to seven years to compete with its nearest rival in this category Subway, which has about 250 outlets. The Indian fast food market is estimated to be growing at 25-30 per cent, dominated by global brands such as MacDonald, KFC and Dominos.

Quiznos currently has about 4,000 outlets, 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. In Asia, it is not immediately looking at China due to stern franchisee norms there.

He said more than recessionary pressures, stiff lending norms by banks are posing a bigger challenge to the fast food franchisee market in the US. He agreed that most QSRs in the US have recorded a dip in footfalls in the wake of the economic squeeze there.

Mr Mohit Mathur, CEO of Quiznos India, said the plan was to set up 30 outlets in the southern States in the next 12 months, with each special venue outlets requiring an investment of about Rs 35 lakhs. “In India, the biggest challenge is logistics infrastructure, especially cold chain network,” he pointed out.

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