Search the Internet          Tips  Sites: Finance, Investment

Domino's Pizza to set up 10 stores in 2003

Fast-food major Domino's Pizza would add around 10 stores to its existing fleet of 90 in the coming year, infusing a fresh investment of Rs 7 crore (Rs 70 million).

Domino's Pizza India Ltd chief executive officer Arvind Nair told UNI that the company was focussing on increasing its presence in the metros, ''where we hope a huge market exists for our brand.'' Domino's Pizza India Ltd, which started operations in India in 1996, is also the master franchisee for Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Nair said as part of efforts to increase variety, the company had introduced five new products to its offerings.

''These are the Mexican Green Wave and Paneer Do Payaza in the vegetarian segment and Mexican Red Wave and Keema Do Pyaza for the non-vegetarians.

''Apart from the above, we have also introduced our internationally-successful Garlic Breadsticks, which is an offering of freshly baked breadsticks, available for Rs 39,'' he said.

Asked how the company fared last year, especially as it decreased its presence from 40 cities to the current 24, he declined to divulge figures, though adding that they were expecting good growth.

''We closed down operations in some cities not because of financial constraints but because of the poor infrastructural and other support they offered,'' he said.

Asked how much market share the company thought it had acquired in the Pizza business, he said according to an internal survey, it came to be in the range of 50-60 per cent.

On whether the company was concentrating on offering products more suited to the local taste, he said it was part of their strategy, applied across the globe.

''Thirty per cent of our Pizza offerings are based on unique Indian flavour and taste. These include the Peppy Paneer and the newly-introduced Keema Do Pyaza and Paneer Do Payaza.

''Also, going with the local cultural events, we orgainse several schemes during the festival season like for Navratri, Onam, Durga Puja, Diwali, among others,'' he said.

Domino's Pizza India Ltd is promoted by Shyam Bartia and Hari Bhartia of the Jubilant Organosys Group.

UNI

ALSO READ:
More Money Headlines

Tell us what you think of this report