The Times of India MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2002
KFC outlets total 600 in China PTI BEIJING: The US-based fast food giant, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), which has opened 600 outlets in China, plans to open 120 more branches this year, a senior company executive has said. KFC opened for business an outlet in north west China's Gansu province this week, bringing the number of KFC branches in the country to 600. David Novak, president and chief executive officer of the Tricon Global Restaurants Incorporation (TGRI), who owns a number of world famous fast-food stores like KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, said some 120 more new KFC branches will open this year in China and Pizza Hut will open at least 25 new branches. "With the implementation of China's west development strategy, northwestern region will become one of the fastest developing area in the country," Novak said. He believes that drawn by large profits, more foreign-invested companies will move there. During the past four months, 100 KFC branches have been launched in China with their enlarged business area totalling 35,000 square metres. In 2001, sales made by both KFC and the Pizza Hut in China stood around $651 million. As China has become the second largest fast food market after the United States, Novak says that the TGRI has planned to beef up its annual investment here by 25 per cent. Copyright © 2001 Times Internet Limited. All rights reserved.
