Mayank Gupta and Lalit Jhawar, two dynamic farmer-entrepreneurs, have set forth on a thrilling venture into the gourmet retail realm with the inauguration of Food Square. Situated in the vibrant heart of Bandra, Mumbai, this unparalleled premium emporium for gourmet culinary delights boasts an expansive 25,000 square feet. It presents an opulent selection of the most exquisite provisions and elusive flavors procured from worldwide sources, catering to a wide spectrum of gastronomic cravings, all while aspiring to revolutionize the gourmet retail experience.
With a combined expertise of over 5 years in cultivating and supplying fresh produce to more than 200 supermarkets in Western and Southern India, this dynamic pair possesses extensive industry experience and a thorough comprehension of consumer demands. In an impressive initial funding round, Food Square has effectively garnered a significant investment of $3.6 million. The multi-story venue, rented with support from Bollywood Actor Salman Khan and backed by prominent investors like Fashion Designer Masaba Gupta, Mukul Agrawal, Purple Style Labs, Sanket Parekh (from the Pidilite Family), Rahul Kalyan (SMIFS), Harminder Sahni, and others, envisions establishing stores across India, including cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi, Jaipur, and Pune. Their primary focus is on serving the High Net Worth Individual (HNI) and Ex-Pat Community.
Food Square presents an extensive selection from over 6,000 global brands. The establishment showcases a dynamic Live Kitchen, an enticing Cheese Cellar brimming with a collection of more than 350 cheese varieties ranging from INR 4,000 to INR 5 lakhs. They have cultivated partnerships with renowned brands such as Versace for an opulent cutlery range, Brijwasi for exclusive artisanal kulfi, air-fried farsans, Gelato for ice cream and cakes, live stations featuring Entisi Chocolate, and a diverse array of products encompassing dips, spreads, sauces, and a convenient Home Meal Replacement Service.
Food Square warmly welcomes connoisseurs to immerse themselves in a realm of indulgence, offering premium wines, fresh cuts from a distinguished meat market, Italian antipasti, olive oils, and truffles courtesy of Oliveology. Furthermore, they provide a diverse selection of eggs, a captivating fish cleaning theater, an extensive variety of fresh fruit jams, high-quality cold cuts, poultry, seafood, and an exclusive Indian sweet shop.
The opulent experience doesn’t stop at humans; it extends to pet owners as well, with a range of imported treats and tailor-made pet hampers. Food Square invites patrons to delve into a realm of freshness, highlighting exotic fruits, vegetables, and an extensive selection of water sourced from diverse corners of the world. In addition to retail, Food Square actively promotes artisanal brands, especially startups, allowing them to exhibit their forward-thinking product concepts and offering customers a varied range of products that align with current market trends.
Lalit Jhawar, CEO and Co-Founder of Food Square said, “Our aspirations reach for the sky as we strive to elevate the realms of experimentation, quality, accessibility, and convenience. Our primary goal is to deliver unparalleled freshness and top-notch quality, sourcing our food directly from the farms. We are committed to providing our customers with an experience that surpasses any they’ve encountered before.”
Mayank Gupta, MD and Co-Founder of Food Square said, “We are farmer-entrepreneurs-founders ourselves, running large-scale aquaponics and sustainable soil based farms in different parts of Maharashtra since more than 5 years. The current valuation of the Indian gourmet food market standing at $1.3 billion, a CAGR of 20 percent, makes it a promising arena. Our aim is to bring authentic flavours from around the world to our home turf, creating a space that resonates with every food enthusiast. A dynamic city like Mumbai truly deserves a top-tier gourmet experience, and we are delighted to fulfil that need.”