Papa John’s International is set to return to India by October, with plans to establish 650 outlets over the next decade, despite sluggish growth in the country’s fast-food sector.
The U.S.-based pizza chain, which exited India in 2017 due to weak performance, will re-enter the country through a joint master franchise agreement between Indian investment firm Pulsar Capital and the UAE-based PJP Investments Group. Its first outlet will open in Bengaluru, said Vish Narain, managing partner at Pulsar Capital.
Papa John’s comeback follows U.S. rival Little Caesars, which entered India earlier this year aiming for 100 stores by 2030. The world’s third-largest pizza delivery brand will compete with entrenched players such as Domino’s Pizza, with over 2,200 outlets, and Pizza Hut, which operates about 950 stores, alongside premium chains like Pizza Bakery and PizzaExpress.
The move comes as quick-service restaurants face pressure from slowing wage growth and rising competition, forcing several operators, including Pizza Hut franchisee Devyani International, to shut underperforming stores.
Narain, however, remains optimistic, calling India “under-penetrated” in the fast-food category. “We are many years away from saturation,” he said, adding that Papa John’s will localize its menu while retaining global favourites.
The chain had first announced plans to return to the “complex market” in April 2023. Its strategy mirrors that of global consumer giants like Hindustan Unilever and Heineken, which continue to expand in India, betting on long-term growth in a country of 1.4 billion people.