U.S. franchisors in IndiaU.S. franchisors in India

About a dozen U.S. restaurant chains were represented on a trade mission to India April 11-15, organized by the U.S. Commercial Service and led by Assistant Commerce Secretary Nicole Lamb-Hale. It was the first trade mission to India focused exclusively on franchises, and representatives from the American companies met with between five and 10 potential franchisees in each of the three Indian cities they visited.


Starting in the commercial capital of Mumbai on India’s west coast, mission delegates spent a day in a series of what were essentially 45-minute speed dates with potential franchisees. That was followed by a networking reception at the residence of the U.S. consul general.


The next day the delegates visited the city’s largest re...