Yum! is Largest and Fastest Growing Restaurant Company in India and
Building Taco Bell into Third Powerhouse Global Brand
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) announces the grand opening of the first
Taco Bell in India by its international division, Yum! Restaurants
International (YRI). Yum! is the leading restaurant company in India
with its KFC and Pizza Hut brands. The introduction of the first Taco
Bell in India reflects the Company's strategy of creating a third global
brand.
"We're delighted to be offering Taco Bell to consumers in India, a key
growth market in our global portfolio," said Graham Allan, president,
Yum! Restaurants International. "Based on customer feedback so far, we
expect it will become extremely popular, just as it is in the United
States. The Mexican-style food is perfect for the Indian taste palate
and we will be offering a variety of vegetarian meals as well so that
everyone can enjoy it."
Yum!'s new Taco Bell international restaurant, located in Bangalore,
India, is the country's first experience with the Mexican-inspired
quick-service restaurant brand. Taco Bell's "Think Outside the Bun"
positioning and brand essence is expected to resonate extremely well
with India's young population. The new Taco Bell India menu features
tacos, burritos, nachos, quesadillas and Crunchwraps, including spicier
products tailored to the Indian market. The menu offers breakthrough
value priced items starting at 35 cents. In addition, fifty percent of
the menu features a vegetarian range of products specially created for
Indian consumers including potato paneer burritos and crunchy potato
tacos, among others.
"We are confident that Taco Bell will redefine the eating-out market in
India with incredible taste catering to many consumer segments, day
parts and occasions at an unmatched price," said Niren Chaudhary,
managing director, Yum! Restaurants International India. "We are excited
to be opening the first Taco Bell in India and we plan to expand it
nationally as an incredibly vibrant and youthful brand."
Yum! Brands is focused on developing Taco Bell into its third global
brand after KFC and Pizza Hut. Taco Bell is the second most profitable
brand in the United States. Over the past few years, the Company has
expanded Taco Bell beyond Canada and Puerto Rico to other markets
including Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Dominican Republic, Guam,
Iceland, Philippines, Dubai, Spain and Cyprus. Yum! is optimistic about
the long-term potential of growing Taco Bell internationally. As of
year-end 2009, there are more than 250 Taco Bell restaurants outside of
the United States.
India is a key growth market for Yum! Brands due to its extremely young
and large population of 1.1 billion people, growing middle class and
emerging economy. Over the past 12 years, Yum! has become the largest
and fastest growing restaurant company in India by successfully
developing a strong infrastructure, highly-skilled workforce focused on
providing outstanding customer service and innovative, localized menus
offering value options. By 2015, the Company expects to have at least
1,000 restaurants in India, up from 230 restaurants as of year-end 2009.
KFC is the fastest growing quick-service restaurant brand in India with
72 restaurants in 13 cities as of year-end 2009. Yum! opened 27 new KFC
restaurants in India in 2009, which is among the highest number of store
openings in the country's quick-service restaurant industry. KFC is a
young, vibrant brand in India from its contemporary restaurant designs
featuring bold colors, open seating areas for large groups and
flat-panel televisions to innovative marketing programs to unique
signature products, including vegetarian items. Last year, the Company
opened its first KFC Krushers beverage bar and store design in India
highlighting YRI's popular new line of yogurt and fruit smoothies,
dairy-based and soda-based drinks and teas.
Pizza Hut has been named the "Most Trusted Food Service Brand" in India
for the fifth year by The Economic Times (India), ahead of all
other Indian and global brands, demonstrating its popularity in the
country. As of year-end 2009, there are 158 Pizza Huts in 34 cities
offering a range of localized products including masala pizza, chicken
tikka appetizers and spicy Indian drinks.
YRI is the largest division of Yum! Brands with more than 13,000
restaurants outside the U.S. and China Division. One of Yum! Brands'
four key business strategies is to drive aggressive international
expansion and build strong brands everywhere. In 2009, operating profit
for YRI was $491 million. The year 2009 also marked the tenth year that
YRI has opened more than 700 new restaurants outside the U.S. and China.
Yum! Brands, Inc., based in Louisville, Ky., is the world's largest
restaurant company in terms of system restaurants with more than 37,000
restaurants in more than 110 countries and territories. The company is
ranked #239 on the Fortune 500 List, with revenues of nearly $11 billion
in 2009. Four of the company's restaurant brands - KFC, Pizza Hut, Long
John Silver's and Taco Bell - are the global leaders of the chicken,
quick-service seafood, pizza and Mexican-style food categories. A&W
Restaurants is the longest running quick-service franchise chain in
America. Outside the United States, Yum! Brands system opened more than
four new restaurants each day of the year, making it a leader in
international retail development.
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Source: Yum! Brands, Inc.
Contact: Yum! Brands, Inc.
Virginia Ferguson, Manager Public Relations, 502-874-8200