GFA to invest Rs 40 cr on expansion in South India

Plans are on to open a total of 35 stores across all brands in South India this year, says Joseph Cherian, CEO, GFA Globa

Global Franchise Architects, a Quick Service Restaurants player that owns brands like Pizza Corner and Cream & Fudge, among others, today said the company would invest around Rs 40 crore as part of its expansion plans for South India.

Joseph Cherian, CEO, GFA Global, said plans are on to open a total of 35 stores across all brands in South India this year, with a large focus on Pizza Corner stores. The other brands are The Donut Baker and Coffee World.

He said the focus would be on opening more company-owned outlets. So far, 75% of the 60 Pizza Corner outlets have been opened under the franchise business model while the rest are company-owned stores.

"This year, we plan to take the number of outlets to 75 by the end of this calendar year with most of them being own stores," he said. However, franchise model would continue to exist, he added.

Half of the the proposed Rs 40 crore would be spent on Pizza Corner brand, he said.