California Pizza Kitchen plans pan-India expansion

A US based casual dining restaurant, California Pizza Kitchen is all set to expand its services into India through franchise route. It has signed a franchise agreement with JSM Corporation Pvt. Ltd and Daud Arabian to open at least 15 California Pizza Kitchen restaurants in the next 10 years with the first restaurant scheduled to open in the summer of 2010. The company has a growing consumer economy that represents one of the world’s largest emerging markets. JSM is a leading restaurant group based in Mumbai and is the exclusive franchisee for Hard Rock Café across India, operates the Asian-inspired Shiro Concept and other independent restaurants. The Daud Group has been successful in bringing such brands as McDonalds, Yo! Sushi and Gourmet Burger Kitchen to the Middle East. One of its other subsidiaries, Gourmet Gulf Company, is a current franchise partner who opened the first California Pizza Kitchen restaurant in Dubai earlier this year.