For India, there are now 3 outlets in operation.
On the planning board, KFC expects to have 17 outlets in the subcontinent by the end of next year.
They opened the first at Pune and now they have two in Mumbai.
According to a KFC spokesperson, of the 17 outlets, five would be in Mumbai and these will all be acquired from master franchise holder Yum! Brands Inc. KFC will acquire two outlets in Pune from another Indian franchise holder, Kernel Food Pte Ltd.
Ali said KFC Holdings would open four more outlets of its own by year-end. Of the four, two would be in Mumbai, one in Pune and one in Aurangabad – all these cities are located in the state of Maharashtra, which is on the western part of India.
“We want to build a critical mass as soon as possible. By the end of this year, we will have a total of nine outlets which will involve an investment of about US$9mil,” he said.
He added that KFC Holdings would open eight outlets next year costing a total of US$10mil.
KFC expects a 15% yearly return to investment from the Indian operations.
Maharashtra has a population of about 100 million, of which 21 million lives in its industrial and financial hub Mumbai and 5.7 million in its education-cum cultural centre Pune.
The Indian consumer market is also considered to be under-developed, having an estimated 1,200 brand restaurants in a country with over 1.13 billion, of which 50% is under 25 years old.
The spokesperson is impressed with the sales recorded in India, saying it should be faster here than in Cambodia.
On whether the company would venture into poultry and chicken-breeding business to support its operations in India, he said: “We’ll do things one step at a time. Maybe we’ll do it in the long run.”
He said KFC Holdings would focus on Maharashtra before looking at other states in India. At the moment, the company is only allowed by YUM! to operate in Maharashtra.
KFC Holdings also announce that it would open six outlets in Cambodia in 2011, with each outlet expected to cost RM1mil. It now has seven in that country.
He also said the company would open a Pizza Hut outlet in Phnom Penh soon.
