Cambodia's 1st KFC fast-food outlet opens

PHNOM PENH , April 29 KYODO

International fast-food restaurant chain KFC Corp. has opened its first branch in Cambodia and plans to open more within the year, its investors said Tuesday. The outlet was officially launched Monday at the Asia Hotel complex in the capital Phnom Penh , said Debasish Pattnaik of the Royal Group, a Cambodian investment and development company that holds a 35 percent stake in the KFC joint venture. He said the joint venture plans to open three more KFC branches in Phnom Penh by the end of the year along with one in the northern tourist hub of Siem Reap and another in the southern beach town of Sihanoukville .

''I am sure it is going to be a big hit with all Cambodians,'' said Tan Sri Dato' Muhammad Ali Hashim, chairman of QSR Brands Bhd., the Malaysian majority shareholder in the venture with a 55 percent stake. QSR already operates 407 KFC restaurants in Malaysia , 72 in Singapore and seven in Brunei . According to KFC, more than a billion of its ''finger lickin' good'' chicken dinners are served annually in more than 80 countries and territories around the world.

KyodoApril 29, 2008