JIP adds Quiznos brand to its Indian portfolio

JIP Fashion and Restaurants Pvt Ltd has introduced the US-based sandwich restaurant brand Quiznos in the Indian market. The company has obtained franchise rights for the North and the East Indian markets. The company plans to roll out the outlets from the second quarter of 2009. It is focusing on the mall format for this brand’s development. It aims to have about 25 outlets under this brand umbrella by 2012. Speaking about the development, Sudesh Singh, Business Head - West India, JIP Fashion & Restaurants, states, “Quiznos is a fast food sub sandwich format, which will work better in the express mode. We plan to take this brand to restaurants and multiplexes.” JIP will invest about Rs 20 Crore in this brand’s development and launch outlets in the region. The first outlet is expected to come up in Gurgaon. The company eventually aims to acquire pan India franchise rights for the brand. The market slowdown has also proved to be a positive opportunity for expansion. Singh opines, “The prices are coming back to rational levels and developers are also open to negotiating terms now.” Taking advantage of the situation, the company plans to expand the other brands, like Chilli, the Great Kebab Factory (TGKF) and Papa Johns across their regions. While, it owns the pan India franchise rights for Papa Johns, it owns franchise rights for TGKF and Chilli only in the West and South Indian markets. JIP Fashion and Restaurants aims to have 15 outlets (each) of Chilli and TGKF by 2012. The company will only develop fine or casual dine restaurant formats for the brands and will incur about Rs 3 Crore for each 4000 sq ft restaurant. The first Chilli outlet will be introduced in Bengaluru by March 2009. It is also considering prospective locations in Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai and Mumbai for Chilli and TGKF. Each restaurant will consist of about 100 to 150 covers. The company has 16 Papa Johns restaurants in its portfolio and nine restaurants under development slated for operations by March 2009. It aims to introduce four outlets in Bengaluru, three in Mumbai and Pune and two in Delhi. The company plans to have 45 outlets under this brand in its portfolio by end 2009 and 125 restaurants by 2012. All the investment incurred by the company will be funded by its parent company, Bahrain-based Jawad Business Group.