GFA on an expansion spree; mulls PE route to raise funds

Switzerland based Global Franchise Architects (GFA), which owns food service brands such as Pizza Corner, The Donut Baker, Coffee World and The Cream and Fudge Factory, is now looking to recuperate its focus on the Indian market. To establish a pan India presence, the company plans to launch its retail outlets and raise funds for supporting its expansion in the long term. The company is now scouting for master franchisee partners to expand in other parts of the country. For the eastern region, the company has appointed Gama Hospitality as a master franchisee. The company would soon be debuting in Kolkata, where it plans to open 35 outlets across all formats by next year. The company also plans to add 40 outlets to its existing 62 outlets across all food brands soon. The company looks ahead to grow its store count to100 by March 2010 through both company-owned and franchised stores. Besides this, GFA is also considering to raise funds through private equity investment or through venture capitals. Presently, GFA operates 44 Pizza Corner, six Coffee World, eight Donut Baker and four The Cream & Fudge Factory outlets. All these outlets are in the South, except for Pizza Corner, which has three outlets in Delhi. GFA is a privately-held company based in Geneva, Switzerland, with corporate offices in Thailand, India, the US and the UAE.