Bikaji Foods Q3 FY26: Profit Soars 122% on Strong Ethnic Snacks Demand and Export Growth

Business

January 30, 2026

Bikaji Foods International Ltd reported a sharp improvement in profitability in the third quarter of FY26, backed by steady demand for ethnic snacks in India and rising traction across export markets. The company delivered double digit revenue growth alongside a significant expansion in margins, highlighting improved operating efficiency and scale benefits.

For the quarter, Bikaji recorded revenue growth of 10.7 percent year on year, supported by higher volumes across its core product portfolio and wider distribution reach. Despite inflationary pressures in the broader FMCG landscape, organised branded snacks continued to see strong consumer preference, aiding consistent topline performance.

Profitability emerged as the standout metric for the quarter. Profit after tax jumped more than 122 percent compared to the same period last year. The sharp rise was driven by operating leverage, better cost control and an improvement in EBITDA margins. Management indicated that easing raw material prices, tighter pricing discipline and supply chain efficiencies contributed to margin expansion.

Ethnic snacks remained the company’s largest and fastest growing segment. Products such as bhujia, namkeen and region specific snacks saw healthy demand across urban and semi urban markets. Western snacks and papad also posted solid growth, reflecting increasing acceptance of packaged snack formats among younger consumers. The packaged sweets business saw a temporary dip during the quarter due to changes in festive demand timing, though performance for the full year remains stable.

Exports played an important role in the quarter’s performance, registering strong year on year growth. International markets including North America and the Middle East continued to show rising demand for Indian ethnic foods. The export mix also supported profitability due to better realisations and scale efficiencies.

Alongside financial results, Bikaji announced a series of strategic moves. The board approved a ₹50 crore investment into its retail subsidiary to accelerate omni channel expansion and strengthen direct consumer engagement. The company also outlined plans to enter the frozen foods and bakery segments through a joint venture, marking its expansion into high growth convenience categories. Additional investments were approved to support partner manufacturing units and reinforce long term supply stability.

With strong fundamentals, expanding exports and a diversifying portfolio, Bikaji Foods remains well positioned to sustain growth while maintaining margin discipline in the coming quarters.

Edrington Names Paul Ross as India COO as Scotch Whisky Demand Accelerates

Leadership

SnackTeam

January 30, 2026

Premium spirits group Edrington has appointed industry veteran Paul Ross as Chief Operating Officer for its India business, underlining the company’s intent to deepen its presence in what has become the world’s largest Scotch whisky market by volume.

Ross will be based in India and will oversee operations, commercial execution and long-term growth plans for Edrington’s portfolio, including single malt brands such as The Macallan and Highland Park. His appointment comes at a time when India is witnessing sustained premiumisation in spirits consumption, supported by rising disposable incomes, a younger legal-drinking-age population and evolving preferences toward high-end international labels.

India’s importance to global Scotch producers has grown steadily in recent years. According to industry data, the country now leads global Scotch whisky volumes, aided by easing trade barriers following the UK–India trade agreement, which provides a phased reduction in import duties on Scotch whisky. These changes are expected to improve accessibility and pricing over the medium term, creating headroom for premium and ultra-premium segments.

Ross brings more than 30 years of experience within the Edrington group. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Edrington Americas, where he played a key role in expanding The Macallan’s footprint in the United States, the company’s largest value market. Over the years, he has held senior leadership positions across Asia Pacific, the United Kingdom and the Americas, giving him broad exposure to both developed and emerging spirits markets.

In his new role, Ross will focus on building local organisational capabilities, strengthening distributor partnerships and creating a scalable operating model tailored to India’s complex regulatory and state-level market structure. The mandate also includes sharpening brand building efforts in the luxury and ultra-luxury whisky segments, where Edrington sees long-term potential.

Commenting on the appointment, Edrington said Ross’s global experience and deep understanding of premium spirits would support the company’s ambition to build a sustainable, locally anchored business in India. With consumption patterns shifting toward quality over quantity, the company believes the market is entering a new phase of growth that favours established single malt portfolios.

Ross’s appointment signals Edrington’s confidence in India as a strategic growth engine for its global Scotch whisky business.

Vintage Coffee Reports 71% Jump in Q3 FY26 Revenue as Profits Rise on Capacity Expansion

Growth

SnackTeam

January 30, 2026

Vintage Coffee and Beverages Ltd delivered a strong financial performance in the third quarter of FY26, posting sharp growth across revenue and profitability as higher volumes and better plant utilisation lifted operating leverage.

According to its regulatory filing, the Hyderabad based coffee manufacturer reported revenue of ₹150.52 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, marking a 71 percent year on year increase. Operating profit rose even faster, climbing 83 percent to ₹27.64 crore, reflecting improved margins and efficiency. Profit after tax for the quarter stood at ₹19.11 crore, up 53 percent compared to the same period last year.

The momentum extended beyond the quarter. For the nine months ended December 31, 2025, Vintage Coffee recorded revenue of ₹387.74 crore, a 91 percent increase over the corresponding period in the previous year. Operating profit more than doubled to ₹66.25 crore, while profit after tax surged 109 percent to ₹51.18 crore, underscoring the scale benefits from rising demand and tighter cost control.

Balakrishna Tati, Chairman and Managing Director, attributed the performance to strong order inflows, disciplined execution and sustained focus on profitability across product categories. He said the company remains confident of maintaining growth in the final quarter of FY26, supported by ongoing capacity additions.

As part of its medium term expansion strategy, Vintage Coffee plans to commission an additional 4,500 metric tonnes per annum of spray dried and agglomerated coffee capacity by the end of FY26. This will take the company’s total installed capacity to 11,000 MTPA.

In parallel, the company is making a significant long term bet on premium coffee formats. Vintage Coffee has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Telangana to invest ₹1,100 crore in a greenfield project to be developed in phases. The first phase, a freeze dried coffee facility with a planned capacity of 5,500 MTPA, is currently under execution, with key plant and machinery orders already placed with European suppliers.

The new facility is expected to strengthen Vintage Coffee’s premium portfolio and support volume growth through FY28, positioning the company for the next phase of expansion in domestic and export markets.

CHACHA’S Pickle Debuts in India With Goal to Reach 10 Million Consumers Through Traditional Punjabi Recipes

Growth

SnackTeam

January 29, 2026

Punjab-based heritage food brand CHACHA’S has officially entered the Indian packaged foods market, bringing traditional Punjabi pickles made using slow-cooked, chulha-style methods to a wider audience. Founded in Mohali, the brand has set an ambitious target of serving 10 million consumers across the country while staying rooted in homestyle preparation and family-led operations.

Unlike most commercial pickle brands, CHACHA’S follows a fully in-house production model. Every stage, from sourcing raw ingredients and whole spices to cooking, ageing and final packaging, is handled at the founders’ family residence. The process relies on slow cooking over a traditional flame and natural maturation, a method that allows flavours to develop gradually and preserves the character of regional Punjabi recipes.

The brand’s operations are overseen entirely by the founding family, with no outsourced labour involved. According to the company, this structure allows for tighter control over hygiene, consistency and quality. The same products sold to consumers are consumed by the family themselves, a practice that has translated into strong repeat demand. The company reports that nearly two-thirds of its customers return for multiple purchases, indicating early consumer trust and loyalty.

CHACHA’S is led by Manpreet Singh and Ravinder Singh, a chacha-bhatija duo who drew inspiration from pickling techniques once common in rural Punjabi households. Their approach focuses on preserving flavour authenticity at a time when mass production has largely replaced traditional methods.

Even before its commercial launch, the brand demonstrated its long-term intent by successfully defending its trademark during a challenge in 2018–19. This early milestone helped shape its emphasis on building a sustainable and defensible brand.

Beyond being a condiment, CHACHA’S is positioning pickles as a standalone snacking option for modern consumers. As it scales distribution, the brand aims to balance growth with its core promise of ethical practices, homestyle quality and uncompromised flavour, bringing a taste of traditional Punjabi kitchens to urban India.

Ranveer Singh’s SuperYou Launches Mega Protein Wafer With 20g Protein, Targets India’s High-Protein Snacking Market

Business

SnackTeam

January 29, 2026

Protein-first snacking brand SuperYou, co-founded by actor Ranveer Singh and entrepreneur Nikunj Biyani, has expanded its portfolio with the launch of the Mega Protein Wafer, a product positioned to raise the bar for high-protein indulgent snacks in India. Each wafer delivers 20 grams of protein, making it one of the most protein-dense wafer formats currently available in the market.

The launch comes as protein continues to move from a niche fitness requirement to a mainstream dietary priority. Urban Indian consumers are increasingly seeking convenient food options that offer both taste and functional nutrition. SuperYou’s latest product aims to meet this demand by combining a familiar chocolate wafer format with a protein content typically associated with shakes or bars.

Priced at ₹120, the Mega Protein Wafer will debut exclusively on Swiggy Instamart and the SuperYou website, reflecting the brand’s focus on quick commerce and direct-to-consumer channels. Additional delivery platforms are expected to follow. The strategy aligns with growing consumer reliance on instant delivery platforms for daily nutrition and impulse snacking.

The product is designed for multiple use occasions, including pre- and post-workout consumption, mid-day hunger management and evening snacking. According to the company, the goal was to create a snack that fits easily into everyday routines rather than being restricted to fitness-only moments.

Available initially in a Nutty Chocolate flavour, the wafer features layered chocolate wafers topped with salted peanuts. It is made using atta and jowar, contains no added sugar and excludes palm oil, responding to increasing scrutiny around ingredient quality and sourcing.

SuperYou has positioned the Mega Protein Wafer as a core innovation within its growing portfolio, aimed at consumers who want indulgence without compromising on protein intake. With this launch, the brand continues to strengthen its presence in India’s rapidly evolving functional snacking segment, where taste, convenience and nutrition are increasingly expected to coexist.

The Stack Secures Rs. 5.5 Crore in Institutional Funding to Build Science-First Supplements Brand in India

funding

SnackTeam

January 29, 2026

Consumer health startup The Stack has raised Rs. 5.5 crore in its first institutional funding round, marking a key milestone in its journey to build a science-led supplements brand for Indian consumers. The pre-seed round was led by OTP Ventures and Huddle Ventures, with participation from a group of angel investors including Ultrahuman founder Mohit Kumar.

Founded by Shreya Jain and Kshitij Rihal, The Stack operates in the fast-growing supplements category, with a clear focus on clinically studied ingredients, transparent sourcing and formulations designed for long-term outcomes. The founders say the brand was born out of personal frustration with the quality and credibility of supplements available in India.

Rihal, who was training for long-distance running, struggled to find products locally that matched international standards. He partnered with Jain, a chemical engineer with experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing and prior startup exposure, to investigate the gap. Their research pointed to inconsistent formulations, unclear ingredient sourcing and limited manufacturing transparency across the category.

Currently, The Stack is focused on targeted health areas such as sleep and gut health. Rather than expanding rapidly across multiple segments, the company has chosen to concentrate on a small portfolio of products backed by research and repeat usage data. According to the company, select products have scaled more than 40 times in the last year, supported by follow-up rates of 35 to 50 percent at a SKU level in mature customer cohorts.

Investors backing the round pointed to the founders’ deep involvement in formulation and product development as a key differentiator. Partners at OTP Ventures and Huddle Ventures highlighted the brand’s emphasis on efficacy, unit economics and consumer trust over short-term marketing-led growth.

The fresh capital will be deployed toward research and development, expanding the product pipeline, building the early team and strengthening brand identity and packaging. Having grown steadily while bootstrapped so far, The Stack now aims to scale with discipline while staying anchored to its core principles of science, transparency and measurable consumer outcomes.

With increasing scrutiny from informed consumers, The Stack is positioning itself as a long-term player in India’s evolving health and wellness market.

Flipkart Appoints Senior Walmart and FMCG Leaders to Strengthen Finance and Supply Chain Operations

Leadership

SnackTeam

January 29, 2026

Flipkart Group has announced two senior leadership appointments as it sharpens its focus on financial governance and supply chain execution amid rapid expansion across grocery and quick commerce. The company has brought in Jason Chappel as Vice President, Group Controller, and Amer Hussain as Vice President, Supply Chain for Grocery and Minutes, reinforcing its core operating leadership.

Jason Chappel will be responsible for overseeing accounting, financial reporting and internal controls across the Flipkart Group. His mandate includes strengthening governance frameworks and ensuring consistency in controllership practices as the company scales across multiple business verticals. Chappel joins from Walmart, Flipkart’s parent, where he most recently served as Group Director at Walmart Enterprise Business Services. In that role, he managed finance operations across international markets and led complex transitions tied to omnichannel and cross-border business models. Over the years, he has held senior finance leadership roles across Walmart’s operations in China, Japan and Canada, giving him deep experience in managing large, diversified retail organisations.

Amer Hussain will lead supply chain strategy for Flipkart’s fast-growing Grocery and Minutes businesses, which are central to the company’s push into essentials and quick delivery. His role will focus on scaling infrastructure, improving service levels and driving efficiency across warehousing, distribution and last-mile operations. Hussain brings over 25 years of experience across consumer and retail organisations including The Coca-Cola Company, Jubilant FoodWorks and Reliance Consumer. His background spans supply chain transformation, digital operations and managing large-scale networks in high-volume categories.

Both executives will be based in Bengaluru and will work closely with Flipkart’s existing leadership team as the company deepens its investments in institutional capabilities. The appointments come at a time when Flipkart is expanding its operational footprint, particularly in grocery and quick commerce, segments that demand high reliability, speed and cost discipline.

With these hires, Flipkart is signalling a clear intent to strengthen its internal foundations as competition intensifies and consumer expectations around delivery speed, availability and trust continue to rise across India’s e-commerce landscape.

Austria’s Coffeeshop Company Plans 100 India Stores by 2029, Bets Big on a $6 Billion Cafe Market

Business

SnackTeam

January 28, 2026

Austria based Coffeeshop Company is preparing for a major push into India, with plans to open 100 stores by 2029. The move signals growing international interest in India’s rapidly evolving cafe market, which has expanded well beyond its metro roots and into tier two and tier three cities.

Founded in Vienna, Coffeeshop Company is known for blending European coffeehouse traditions with a modern, casual format. India is set to become its largest market globally, reflecting the scale of the opportunity the brand sees in the country. Rising disposable incomes, a younger population, and changing social habits have all contributed to steady growth in out of home coffee consumption.

The expansion will be carried out in partnership with Franchise India, which will lead local development, franchising, and operations. The initial focus will be on major urban centres, with a gradual rollout into emerging cities where cafe culture is gaining momentum. The brand plans to position itself as a premium yet accessible offering, competing in a space already occupied by both global chains and strong homegrown players.

India’s cafe market has grown significantly over the past decade, driven by demand for social spaces that double up as work and meeting hubs. For international brands, India offers long term volume rather than quick wins. Real estate costs, supply chain consistency, and staffing remain key challenges, making local partnerships critical for success.

For Coffeeshop Company, the India entry represents more than just store count expansion. It is a strategic bet on a market where coffee is no longer just a beverage, but a lifestyle choice. If executed well, the brand could carve out a distinct niche by bringing European cafe sensibilities to an audience that is increasingly open to global formats and new experiences.

Amazon Shuts Amazon Go and Fresh Stores, Refocuses $13.7 Billion Whole Foods Bet on Profitable Grocery Growth

Growth

SnackTeam

January 28, 2026

Amazon is preparing to shut down its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh physical stores as the company sharpens its focus on businesses that are showing clearer momentum. The decision marks a noticeable shift away from experimental brick and mortar formats toward Whole Foods Market and online grocery delivery, two areas where Amazon already has scale and customer traction.

Amazon Go was launched with much fanfare for its checkout free technology, positioning itself as a glimpse into the future of retail. Amazon Fresh followed with a broader grocery offering aimed at everyday shoppers. Despite the innovation behind both formats, neither managed to deliver the consistency or profitability Amazon was looking for. Operating physical stores proved costly, complex, and difficult to scale in a competitive grocery market dominated by established players.

Going forward, Amazon plans to double down on Whole Foods Market, which it acquired in 2017 for about $13.7 billion. Whole Foods has remained a strong brand with loyal customers, especially in urban markets where premium grocery demand is steady. Some former Amazon Fresh locations are expected to be converted into Whole Foods stores, allowing Amazon to reuse real estate rather than exit entirely.

Online grocery delivery will also take center stage. With millions of Prime members already using Amazon for everyday purchases, the company sees greater long term value in improving delivery speed, selection, and pricing rather than running multiple store concepts. A new large format grocery model is reportedly under development, signaling that Amazon has not given up on physical retail, but is rethinking how it fits into the larger ecosystem.

The move reflects a broader reality in global retail. Technology alone does not guarantee success on the shop floor. As consumer habits evolve and margins tighten, Amazon appears to be choosing focus over experimentation, betting that fewer formats, executed well, will deliver stronger results in the years ahead.

RollsKing Strengthens Leadership Bench with Arjun Toor as Co Founder to Scale QSR and Cloud Kitchen Network

Leadership

SnackTeam

January 28, 2026

RollsKing has announced the appointment of Arjun Toor as its co founder, marking an important step in the brand’s plans to scale operations and strengthen execution across its growing network. The quick service restaurant and cloud kitchen chain is looking to sharpen its operational focus as it enters its next phase of growth.

Toor brings over 15 years of hands on experience in hospitality operations and commercial strategy. Over the years, he has worked closely with multi location food brands, building systems that support consistency, efficiency, and sustainable expansion. At RollsKing, he will be responsible for driving growth while ensuring that the fundamentals of day to day operations remain strong.

In his new role, Toor will lead new store openings across both the cloud kitchen and QSR formats. A key part of his mandate includes menu stabilization, staffing structures, and improving store level performance. As the brand expands into new markets, these areas are expected to play a critical role in maintaining product quality and customer experience.

Another major focus will be building scalable operating systems for supply chain management and cost optimization. With food service margins under constant pressure, creating tighter controls and predictable processes is essential for long term success. Toor’s background in this space is expected to help RollsKing balance speed of expansion with financial discipline.

The appointment signals RollsKing’s intent to move from a founder led setup to a more structured leadership model. By bringing in an operations focused co founder, the brand aims to lay a stronger foundation for national expansion. As competition in the QSR and cloud kitchen space continues to intensify, leadership depth and operational clarity could become key differentiators for the company in the years ahead.

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