Gourmet Investments to double its India restaurant count

Gourmet Investments Hospitality Group will double its restaurant count to 125 locations in India over the next three years. The company launches the Olive Garden brand in the country on Monday to capture demand from affluent consumers. Global firms including ESTEE LAUDER COMPANIES-CL A and HYATT HOTELS CORP - CL A are betting that high-income earners will sustain spending despite rising global inflation.

### Targeting India's Growing Affluent Class Gourmet Investments, which currently operates 55 outlets including Chili's and PizzaExpress, plans to scale to 100 or 125 stores by 2029. CEO Rohan Pewekar told Reuters that Olive Garden will anchor this growth, with more than 10 locations expected within three years. The strategy focuses on large cities where affluent consumers continue to spend.