Vegan fast-food chain Odd Burger is to expand into Asia, aiming to roll out 145 locations in India and five stores in Singapore over the next 10 years.

Having signed a non-binding letter of intent with Earthlings Canada, Odd Burger said it will open a corporate flagship location in Mumbai by the end of this year, which will serve as a model store for the region. 

“The growth opportunity in the Indian market is significant,” said James McInnes, CEO and co-founder of Odd Burger. “The local connections and know-how gained through our partnership with [Earthlings Canada] will help us service this large and growing market.”

McInnes said that there are about 574 million people following a meat-free diet in India, with 126 million of those adhering to a vegan diet. 

“The market is craving an industry-leading brand like Odd Burger to provide a vision for a sustainable future and to make plant-based eating more accessible,” said Utsang Desai, a member of the board at Odd Burger. 

The agreement is expected to be signed by the end of next week. Earthlings Canada also plans to acquire the right of first refusal to purchase additional territories in other Asia-Pacific countries including Australia and New Zealand.

Further reading, Papa John’s is to open 650 new stores in India.