Nov 11 (Reuters) - Devyani International,

which operates the KFC ( YUM ) and Pizza Hut restaurants in India,

reported a bigger-than-expected rise in second-quarter revenue

on Monday as it added hundreds of new stores in the country,

sending its stock up about 6%.

Global consumer-facing firms such as Hindustan Unilever

, the Indian arm of the UK's Unilever, and McDonald's

are doubling down on the world's fastest-growing

economy, despite a recent inflation-led slowdown in consumption.

Devyani on Monday also said it had signed deals with

Malaysian beverage brand Tealive, Canadian fast-food company New

York Fries and Singapore-based Thai and Asian food chain Sanook

Kitchen to operate their restaurants in India.

"The franchise agreements definitely are a positive

surprise," Elara Capital analyst Karan Taurani said, adding the

launch of three more brands would boost Devyani's positioning on

delivery platforms as well as revenue over the long term.

Store count for Devyani, which runs KFC ( YUM ), Pizza Hut and Costa

Coffee stores in India, rose to 1,557 restaurants in the country

from 1,298 last year.

It also has 364 stores in Nigeria, Nepal and Thailand.

The addition of new stores pushed its revenue higher by 49%

to 12.22 billion rupees for the second quarter ended Sept. 30,

just above the expectations of 12.20 billion rupees, according

to estimates compiled by LSEG.

However, demand at its older stores was weak, with

same-store sales at Devyani's Pizza Hut and KFC ( YUM ) stores in India

declining 5.7% and 7%, respectively.

Devyani's profit slumped to about 170,000 rupees

($2,014.89), from 333.5 million rupees a year earlier. Analysts

had expected 182.4 million rupees, according to estimates

compiled by LSEG.

Last year, it had a one-off gain of 139.9 million rupees.

Sapphire Foods, which also runs Pizza Hut and KFC ( YUM )

restaurants, posted a surprise loss, while Burger King operator

Restaurant Brands Asia booked a bigger loss. Profit at

Westlife Foodworld, which runs McDonald's, slid.

($1 = 84.3720 Indian rupees)