Gourmet Investments, part of the Bharti Family Office, has entered into an agreement to bring US headquartered Chinese food chain PF Chang‘s to India, three persons aware of the development said.

Gourmet Investments currently operates about 16 restaurants of Pizza Express, Chili’s and Ministry of Crab and is in talks with prominent malls for a space for PF Chang’s.

More than a dozen international F&B brands, including Pret A Manger, Tim Hortons and Popeyes, have entered India over the last few months.

“Global food and beverage brands are encashing the surge in F&B consumption patterns in India, which signifies the depth of the market and evolving palate of the consumers,” said Shriram PM Monga, co-founder of retail consultancy firm SRED.

PF Chang’s and Gourmet Investments did not respond to the email queries. In India there is a growing demand among customers for fine dining restaurants and gourmet food.

“Investors are also viewing the restaurant industry as a viable place to be. These international brands are well known to the Indian tourists globally. If they enter the country and maintain the same standard, there is a great opportunity, as Indians are highly experimental about food,” said Hatim Amreliwala, founder, Blackkey consultancy, a boutique retail consultancy firm.