Tricon Restaurants International plans to open another 55 KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants in the Middle East this year, and a further 60 are planned for next year. Peter Hearl, the global franchise's senior vice-president, said the company and its franchise partners "remain very bullish about our brands in the Middle East despite some slowing down in overall economic activity".

Irfan Mustafa, regional general manager, said Egypt and Saudi Arabia would get the bulk of the new openings. The UAE has 43 KFC and 35 Pizza Hut outlets. In the next two years, another 15 will open, although the split has not been decided.

Middle East business growth has been consistent with the worldwide average of about 15 per cent, but Hearl would not reveal the company's profits. "We have a strong and growing business here."

Tricon was formed when it was spun off from Pepsico in 1997. Although there are no longer formal ties, the groups still do business with each other. Tricon reaffirmed its commitment to Pepsi as the supplier of soft drinks at KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants.

"Although we are a completely separate company, we view Pepsi not only as a strategic supplier but as a value-added partner, providing invaluable resources, equipment and training to our operations around the world," Hearl said.

Gordon Jones, Pepsi-Cola International's customer development vice-president, said Pepsi holds about 70 per cent of the region's market share. "The Middle East is the jewel in Pepsi's crown," he said.

Last year the Middle East ranked in the top three markets for Pepsi, following Europe and China. Tricon has more than 30,000 restaurants with more than 10,000 KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurants outside the U.S.