Kolkata Fried Chicken

Yum Brands Inc. (Louisville, Ky.) has announced an expansion plan in India that would double its revenues there by 2010.

“We will be adding around 30-40 restaurants annually for the next three years,” said Niren Chaudhary, India managing director for Yum International Restaurants. “We want to serve a larger customer base, with focus on being relevant to Indian customers.”

Yum plans to expand the number of Pizza Hut restaurants in India from 134 to 175 in the next three years and to add 15 to 20 new KFC outlets a year. Pizza Hut serves over 300,000 customers every week in India, Chaudhary said.

In India, Yum competes with American rivals McDonald's and Domino's and local brands such as Nirulas and Haldiram. The fast-food and beverage market in India is estimated to be about $270 million and growing at the rate of 25-30 percent annually.