Newstrack

Nirula's explores opportunities abroad

To enter Mumbai this year

Dinkar Farwaha - New Delhi

Fast food chain Nirula's is seriously exploring the international market. In an exclusive with Express Hospitality, Sudipta Sen Gupta, its senior VP (Marketing & Sales), claimed, "With the demand for Indian food growing phenomenally in the international market, we have been receiving consistent enquiries from businessmen to partner with them and open franchise outlets in neighbouring countries like the Middle East, the UK and even the US."

While its primary focus is on having a presence in neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and the Middle East, it is not discounting possibilities of a presence in Europe as well in the next couple of years.

As far as the group's domestic plans are concerned, it plans to increase its tally of outlets from 57 to 200 by 2010 and will be marking its presence in the western region this year with Mumbai. "We are also looking at Pune, Ahmedabad, Nagpur and Surat," informed Sen Gupta. The group is also hopeful of venturing into the east this year itself. As far as its plans in South India are concerned, it is expected to enter here sometime next year.