Canada's New York Fries Inks 35-Unit, 5-Year Deal for Northern India

Canadian franchisor New York Fries has signed a multi-unit deal to develop 35 restaurants in Northern India over the next 5 years. The franchisees are Naveen and Anita Vasisht, Shailendar Kaushik, and Sameer Sharma.

"We've had India in our expansion plans for a while, but were waiting for the right partner to bring New York Fries to the Indian market," said Craig Burt, vice president of New York Fries, in a press release announcing the deal. The franchisees, he said, "bring strong business acumen, an intimate knowledge of the Indian market, and operating experience in the restaurant industry, including 5 years as franchisees with our sister brand, Montana's BBQ & Bar."

The franchisees are equally optimistic. "We believe in this brand and think New York Fries will be a fantastic addition to India," said Naveen Vasisht. "The Indian market is primed for a premium French fry. The population already loves potatoes -- 77 percent of meals contain a potato in some form."

Established in Brantford, Ontario, in 1984, New York Fries was acquired by Cara Operations (now Recipe Unlimited) in 2015. The QSR has 165 units across Canada, as well as 45 international locations in China, the UAE, Macau, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Panama.