Little Caesar enters India

Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc. has launched its first restaurant in India. Entrepreneurs Ashish Choudhary and Alka Balain have opened their Little Caesars Pizza restaurant in Gurgaon, India, a suburb near New Delhi."Little Caesars is pleased to offer hot, fresh pizza at a value to consumers in India," said Mike Therrian, vice president of International, Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc. "We look forward to growing in India and other international locations with highly qualified franchisees such as Ashish and Alka."Little Caesars, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, is the largest carryout chain internationally with restaurants on five continents. In 2008 Little Caesars built restaurants in seven countries, and plans to open a restaurant in Peru this spring. Little Caesars has approved franchisees in New Zealand and Oman. Last year, it opened more domestic units than any other pizza chain in the U.S., opening stores in 41 states. Choudhary is transitioning into Little Caesars franchise ownership as an experienced entrepreneur with other business ventures. He also owns an information technology (IT) business in India. Before investing in his own IT business, he worked in the United States in California`s IT industry. "Little Caesars has provided us with a simple, proven business model, training and the ongoing support we need to help establish the brand in and around New Delhi," Choudhary said. All franchisees receive ongoing training, architectural and construction services to help with design, the ongoing research and development of new products, and effective marketing programs and support. Choudhary and Balain hope to open several additional locations in the greater New Delhi region in the coming years.Some of the menu items Choudhary and Balain will feature in their store include HOT-N-READY® Pizza, Crazy Bread®, Caesar Wings® and Caesar Dips®. Additional menu items offered in the restaurant include several varieties of vegetable toppings for pizzas as well as chicken toppings.