Church’s Chicken has announced the introduction of the chicken chain into the Russian market.

The company’s franchisee, European Active, the operator of the Pizza di
Poma chain, plans to build between 25 and 30 restaurants in the next three years.

The first outlet is planned to open in early August 2007 in Moscow with the second scheduled to open in September in St Petersburg.

Within the next seven years 70 outlets are planned for Russia plus another 30 in Belarus and Ukraine, where Europe Active will develop  the Texas  Chicken  restaurant  chain.
According to Mr Zack Kollias, vice president of International Operations, the company will invest about $20 million in the expansion.

Church’s Chicken is a U.S. chain of fast food restaurants specializing in fried chicken. The chain was founded as Church’s Fried Chicken To Go by George W. Church, Sr. on April 17, 1952 in San Antonio, across the street from The Alamo. The company now has more than 1,500 locations worldwide.

The Russian fast-food market, which grows 25 percent annually, was worth $1.5 billion in 2006, according to RestCon. Moscow accounts for $600 million.

Popularity: 4% [?]