India: Krispy Kreme opens new front in doughnut wars

GlobalPost

Decades from now, when people will look back and say, "That was the year Indians stopped being skinny and started getting fat."

With Krispy Kreme announcing that it will invest around $15 million to open 80 stores in India, the doughnut wars have officially begun -- and India has reached that stage of development that hits every Asian tiger, when even the superfluous, fringe and boutique fast food chains start to set up shop.  And why not?  People are getting richer, and let's face it: Despite all the articles about Hrithik Roshan's six-pack abs, health consciousness here is pretty much non-existent.

See my article about India's emergence as a fast food paradise here.

The dope on the world's best glazed doughnuts?

Citymax Hotels Pvt. Ltd, the hospitality business of the Dubai-based Landmark Group, will open the Krispy Kreme franchises over the next five years, India's Mint newspaper reported.

The first one will be in Bangalore (of course) before the end of this year, followed by an outlet in Mumbai, the paper said. Citymax also plans stores for Pune, Hyderabad and Chennai.

Personally, I've been more pleased with the local Mad Over Donuts than Dunkin' -- which in Delhi's top mall has become teen date central, with people actually ordering sandwiches.  But I have to admit to a wee twinge of rancor that there was no mention of Delhi in Krispy Kreme's future plans.

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