Restaurant chain The Great Kabab Factory today said it is scouting for partners in

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British and Southeast Asian markets to accelerate its overseas expansion.

The chain, which currently operates six restaurants in West Asia, besides 12 others in the country, said it plans another 10-12 outlets in international markets by 2012 and is exploring the franchise and joint venture routes for this.

"International markets would be a major area of focus for us in the next couple of years. Our priority is to make forays into the markets of England and the Southeast Asian nations," The Great Kabab Factory (TGKF) director for brand development Ashna Kapur told PTI.

She said the company is in talks with a couple of local players in those markets for starting operations.

"We are mainly interested in taking the franchise route and appointing master franchises for both markets. However, we are also ready to explore formal joint ventures if the location and partners are right," Kapur said, adding some announcements are likely in the next few months.

TGKF is owned by the Delhi-based AB Hotels, which is the owner of the Radisson Hotels properties in Delhi and Varanasi, and RHW Management Services.

The chain ventured overseas in 2007 and now operates six outlets in West Asia, including three in the UAE, and one each in Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Manama, Bahrain-based conglomerate Jawad Business Group is the master franchise of TGKF in West Asia.

Kapur said the chain, which specialises in over 450 varieties of kebabs, along with assorted breads, pulses and rice dishes, expects to capitalise on the significant Indian diaspora in Britain and Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia and Singapore.

"Besides, Indian food is also hugely popular among the local customers in those countries," she said, adding TGKF is also planning to add about a dozen outlets in the domestic market during the next two years and will focus on tier-II cities.