Dunkin' Donuts vows to open 100 stores in India

Business

Dunkin' Donuts vows to open 100 stores in India

Close

Dunkin' Donuts said Wednesday it aimed to open 100 stores in India over the next five years.

30 May,2012 05:56 pm

As it goes head-to-head with rival Starbucks, which is due to open in the country in the coming months.Dunkin Donuts, which set up its first Indian outlet earlier this month, is among a growing number of Western fast-food chains heading to Asias third-largest economy to cater to an increasingly affluent market in cities.Along with its usual range of products, the group has created some offerings adapted for the Indian palate such as spicy sandwiches, mirroring efforts made in China to woo local consumers.Getting its products to suit the market is very important to our success, company chief executive Nigel Travis told AFP on the sidelines of another store opening, its third this month.The worlds biggest donut seller entered neighbouring emerging market giant China in 2008 and now has some 80 Dunkin Donut outlets in the worlds second-largest economy.We see a young, fast-growing middle class here in India -- the country is ready for entry, he added.Dunkin Donuts will be competing against domestic rivals such as Cafe Coffee Day and Barista, as well as US giant coffee chain Starbucks, which plans to open in August or September.Other fast-food US brands McDonalds, Dominos and Pizza Hut are already expanding fast in India, leading to concern among some health experts about their link to growing obesity rates among Indias middle classes.Dunkin Brands, the parent company of Dunkin Donuts, aims to open 550 to 650 new outlets around the world in 2012, of which a disproportionate number will be in the Asia-Pacific region, said Travis.