Papa John’s International is preparing a major return to India, setting its sights on building 650 outlets by 2035, despite a cooling fast-food market. The U.S.-based pizza chain, ranked the world’s third-largest delivery brand, will reopen its first store in Bengaluru this October, nearly eight years after shutting down operations in the country in 2017 due to underperformance.
The comeback is being driven by Pulsar Capital, an Indian investment firm, and UAE-based PJP Investments Group, which together hold master franchise rights. “The category is still under-penetrated. India remains years away from saturation,” said Vish Narain, managing partner at Pulsar, underscoring the long-term bet on the world’s most populous country.
Papa John’s is not returning alone. Earlier this year, U.S. rival Little Caesars made its Indian debut with a plan to open 100 outlets by 2030. Both chains enter a market where dominant players already loom large: Domino’s operates over 2,200 stores, Pizza Hut has close to 950, while boutique brands such as Pizza Bakery and PizzaExpress are building premium niches.
The timing, however, comes amid softer consumer spending. Urban middle-class households, the mainstay for global fast-food chains, have slowed discretionary purchases due to sluggish wage growth. Devyani International, one of Pizza Hut’s two franchise partners, has shut down underperforming outlets, while Sapphire Foods has opted for a cautious expansion strategy.
Papa John’s strategy will lean on localizing its menu, with adaptations for Indian palates alongside its signature pizzas. Rivals already tailor menus with regional twists — Domino’s sells chicken tikka pies, KFC offers a paneer zinger, and Subway pushes its potato patty sandwich.
Despite the headwinds, Pulsar and Papa John’s believe India’s 1.4 billion population offers scale few markets can match. The Bengaluru launch will mark the opening move in what could be one of the most ambitious pizza bets in India to date.
