PizzaExpress, the Hony Capital-backed group, is set to invest around Rs150 crore (£1.56m) to launch 50 restaurants across India in the next five years.
The company, which made its debut in the country at the end of 2012 in Mumbai, recently opened its first site in Delhi, in Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj. It plans to open a further restaurant in Gurgaon (Ambience Mall) next month.
It currently operates six sites in Mumbai.
The expansion is part of a partnership of the Bharti Enterprises-owned Atrium Restaurants India.
“We want to see PizzaExpress becoming the benchmark for pizzas in the country,” saidRamit Bharti Mittal, head of strategy and business development for Atrium Restaurants India. “There is more consumer awareness and demand for premium Italian offerings in India at present and our product and restaurant experience are key differentiators for our brand.”
PizzaExpress believes there is “enormous potential” for the brand in India.
Last year, it opened its 500th site in total and its first full-owned international site in Beijing, China.
The brand has over 430 restaurants in the UK, and in addition a global presence across 13 countries including China, India and the Middle East.
