When it comes to pizza crusts, what goes down well with the Calcutta crowd? How different is the city’s taste compared to other metros?

Our signature Pan Pizza is liked by most in Calcutta. We have launched another crust with the Ring ’Garlic range of pizzas that has butter and parsley right up to the edges. The innovation has been liked by customers across all the outlets.

While the non-vegetarian platter is more popular with Calcuttans, the vegetarian mix is a pop pick all over India. Calcuttans love their Chicken and Pepperoni pizza and love mustard. In metros like Mumbai, pizza is preferred less spicy.

A significant difference when it comes to the Indian and international taste palate?

Indians prefer their toppings flavoured with spices and like their pizzas with a lot of tomato sauce.

How well does the Calcutta market do for you? In terms of revenue, how would you rank Calcutta?

Our outlets in Camac Street and Salt Lake are among the top five Pizza Huts in the country. The city ranks after Delhi and Mumbai.

What are your expansion plans in Calcutta?

Calcutta is a key metro for us. We plan to open two more stores here this year.

How do you decide on the new additions?

A lot of research goes into a product launch. New additions are decided based on global concepts, local flavours and choice of toppings preferred by the Indian consumers. We look at lunch, snack and dinner options and classifications like weekends and weekdays. Facts like why the customer is out to eat and pricing are taken into account. We get our kitchens ready with the new materials and crew members are trained before launching anything new.

The pizza industry is growing rapidly. Are there any hurdles?

The quality of real estate and short supply of real estate. The government should develop more real estate.

If you want the industry to maintain standards, there should be an improvement in associated infrastructure as well.

Anumita Ghosh

Which is your favourite pizza? Tell t2@abpmail.com