Will start with locations in the National Capital Region.
By Deepak Chitnis
WASHINGTON, DC: American restaurant chain Johnny Rockets will roll out 20 franchises in India over the next five years.
The company announced that it will open its first India-based restaurants in New Delhi, Gurgaon, and Noida, all in the area of the country’s capital, before expanding into other Indian markets. Cities earmarked for future Johnny Rockets locations include Mumbai, Chennai, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Bangalore.
To open these locations, Johnny Rockets has partnered with Prime Gourmet, a restaurant company based in New Delhi. Sachin Goel, Vishal Chaudhry, and Gaurav Sharma founded the company specifically for the purpose of helping Johnny Rockets expand into India, according to a press release.
“There is a large, growing segment of upper middle class and middle class Indians with a high propensity to eat out,” said Goel. “With its menu of all-American favorites, timeless ambiance and engaging dining experience, Johnny Rockets will satisfy a consumer need for a quality product in the QSR and Casual Dining arenas.”
With a growing middle class, rapid urbanization and modernization, India has become a prime market for outside companies, culinary and otherwise, to tap into. The Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) industry, in particular, is expected to experience robust growth in the coming years, with a 30% increase this year alone, according to a Rabobank Food and Agribusiness Research Report cited in the Johnny Rockets press release.
An American icon similar to the Hard Rock Café, Johnny Rockets was founded in 1986 as a throwback diner similar to what one would see across the US in the 1940s and 1950s. The chain is known for its delicious burgers, French fries, and other American staple foods, as well as jukeboxes and 1950s era accouterments.
For the Indian market, the restaurant plans to adapt its menu to cater more easily to Indians, many of whom don’t eat meat and even fewer who won’t go anywhere near beef. Vegetarian options will be offered in all locations, such as veggie burgers. Other US-based chains that have come to India, such as McDonalds and Taco Bell, have also tweaked their menus to ensure that they appeal to the local masses.
“With a population of more than 1.2 billion, second only to China, there is a tremendous audience for our all-American dining experience,” said Steve Devine, President of Johnny Rockets International, in a statement. “The family-friendly environment, classic music, Modern Americana décor and dancing servers associated with Johnny Rockets worldwide further contribute to our unique niche, and should be of great interest to our Indian guests.”
1 Comment
When is Johnny Rockets in Pune scheduled to open and what will be the location if decided ?