Curefoods, a cloud kitchen startup, has completed the acquisition of Yumlane, a foodtech startup, for an undisclosed sum. With this strategic acquisition, Yumlane will harness the extensive network of Curefoods to enhance its exclusive pizza technology.
Established in 2016 by Hitesh Ahuja, Rueben Ghosh, and Rahul Kumar, Yumlane has created an exclusive technology platform for pizza and introduced the Yumlane Pizza cloud kitchen brand, along with a B2B business division.
The startup asserts its presence in 15 cities across India and boasts a clientele that includes prominent names such as Curefoods, Barbeque Nation, Frozen Bottle, and 7-11. It has garnered investments from renowned investors like Binny Bansal, Anupam Mittal, Orios Ventures, and RB Investments.
Commenting on the acquisition, Gokul Kandhi, chief business officer, CureFoods, said, “Their extensive B2B client network and their positioning as a value leader in the pizza category align strategically with our brand portfolio. we are excited to harness Yumlane’s potential as we work toward enhancing the pizza category as a whole.”
Curefoods’ association with Yumlane dates back to 2021 when it acquired the Yumlane Pizza cloud kitchen franchise rights for the South India market. Subsequently, in 2022, Curefoods acquired a 10% stake in the business.
Ankit Nagori founded Curefoods in 2020, and it is home to various brands, including EatFit, CakeZone, Nomad Pizza, Sharief Bhai Biryani, and Frozen Bottle, among others. The startup asserts its presence in 15 Indian cities, operating more than 200 cloud kitchens and offline stores, offering a diverse range of over 10 cuisines.
Curefoods appears to be actively expanding within the food industry. In July, it strategically invested in Hyderabad’s Millet Express, aiming to support the millet startup’s growth and broaden its reach among a larger audience for millet-based products.
Subsequent to this investment, Curefoods secured a $37 million funding round, spearheaded by Binny Bansal’s Three State Ventures. At the time, Curefoods announced its intention to utilize the capital for geographical expansion and diversification of its brands, transitioning from its existing cloud kitchen business model into offline formats.
Read More: Curefoods secures INR 300 crore funding led by Three State Capital, aims to expand offline footprint
Within the Indian cloud kitchen sector, it directly rivals Rebel Foods, a company that expanded into the Saudi Arabian market in July.
Read More: Rebel Foods expands to Saudi Arabia, aims for $100 Million food delivery enterprise in three years