June 9 (Reuters) - U.S. pizza chain Little Caesars is

planning to open dozens of stores in India over the coming years

aiming to capitalise on the country's robust economic growth, an

executive told Reuters.

Little Caesars will open its first Indian store in the Delhi

NCR region this month.

"India is on a growth trajectory ... We don't want to miss

this wave," said Carlos Vidal, vice president of international

development at the privately held Little Caesars.

India's economy is projected to grow at 6.5% for fiscal

2026, maintaining its position as the fastest-growing major

economy, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Founded in 1959, Little Caesars is the third largest

pizza chain in the world, with a presence in more than 29

countries.

The Indian pizza market is fiercely competitive, with

established players like Domino's Pizza and Yum Brands' ( YUM )

Pizza Hut, alongside local chains such as La Pino'z and

numerous independent shops.

India has proven a challenging market for other major pizza

chains. Papa John's, for instance, exited in 2017 due

to fierce competition and operational challenges, though it now

plans to re-enter the market in 2025.

A 100 Little Caesars stores in India by decade-end is a

realistic target, Vidal said, adding the brand is "thinking

about hundreds and eventually thousands of stores over time."

Little Caesars is customizing its menu with vegetarian

pizzas to cater to the country's significantly large vegetarian

population. It will also introduce flavored crusts-a first for

the brand-as plain crusts are often left uneaten by Indian

consumers.

In addition to India, Little Caesars plans to also focus on

Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, the United Arab

Emirates and Brazil over the next few years with a view to

opening more new stores outside the United States.