GFA to invest 40 crore on expansion

Global Franchise Architects, a Switzerland based group that operates brands like Pizza Corner, Coffee World, Cream and Fudge and The Donut Baker, will now invest around Rs 40 crore to add 35 stores across South India this year.

By end of the year, the company would have 75 Pizza Corner outlets from 61 now, and will add around 10 Cream & Fudge stores to the 15 existing ones. The overall expansion will also include tier two cities.

Commenting on the same, Joseph Cherian, CEO, GFA Global, said: “About Rs 20 crore has already been invested for the expansions this year. Currently, 75% of the Pizza Corner outlets have been opened under the franchise business model while rest are company-owned stores. Majority of the operations of GFA are in South and East India and now the company is looking to expand in North as well.”

GFA's Pizza Corner is the third largest chain in the Rs 1,300 crore pizza market in India.Pizza Corner, which is the third largest in terms of number of stores, will now largely grow through their corporate network while franchising would also continue. According to Cherian, “We would be opening 10 more outlets of Cream and Fudge soon. We will also bring in newer products.” Besides India, Cream and Fudge will also be adding about four to five stores in the Middle East soon.