Papa John’s re-enters India with four new stores in Bengaluru

· US pizza chain to open 30 outlets in two years

- VIVEAT SUSAN PINTO

AMERICAN PIZZA CHAIN Papa John's is set to return to India with a mix of small and large-format stores, eight years after exiting the market, Tapan Vaidya, Group CEO at master franchisee PJP Investments Group, said in an exclusive conversation with FE on Friday.

The UAE-based PJP Investments Group, along with investment firm Pulsar Capital, are joint master franchisee of Papa John's in India. The partners plan to launch a total of 650 restaurants in the country over the next decade, all company-owned and operated, aiming to capitalise on India's booming eating-out market.

Vaidya declined to specify investment numbers, saying Papa John's new innings is almost two years in the making, with the franchisee partners carefully planning their strategy to focus on one city at a time, prioritise quality ingredients, and deliver a fresh baking experience.