India’s largest multiplex operator PVR INOX has strengthened its leadership bench at a time when food and beverages are emerging as a critical growth lever for the cinema business. The company has appointed industry veteran Dinesh Hariharan as Senior Vice President for Food and Beverages, tasking him with steering a food portfolio that has quietly scaled into a near Rs. 2,000 crore annual business.

The appointment comes as cinema F&B moves well beyond traditional concessions, increasingly resembling a hybrid of quick service restaurants, experiential dining and packaged food retail. At PVR INOX, food now plays a central role in driving margins, customer engagement and premiumisation across formats.

Hariharan brings more than two decades of experience across QSRs, retail food, hospitality and multiplex kitchens. Prior to joining PVR INOX, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Vaango at Devyani International, where he focused on brand expansion and operational efficiency. He is no stranger to cinema food either, having spent nearly six years at INOX Leisure in senior F&B roles before the PVR INOX merger. His earlier stints include leadership positions at SPAR India, Oriental Cuisines, Spencer’s Retail and Reliance Industries, alongside international exposure with Norwegian Cruise Line.

The scale of the business he steps into is significant. In FY24, PVR INOX reported F&B revenue of Rs. 1,958 crore, growing 21 percent year on year and outpacing ticket revenue growth. While FY25 saw a moderation to Rs. 1,733 crore amid weaker film releases, consumer spending remained resilient, with spend per head rising to Rs. 134. Recovery gathered pace in FY26, with Q1 F&B revenue climbing 22 percent to Rs. 492 crore, followed by Rs. 588 crore in Q2, supported by improved content and higher footfalls.

Beyond cinemas, the company is expanding into mall food courts through a joint venture with Devyani International, scaling dine-in cinema formats, and building FMCG and delivery-led revenue streams. Its gourmet popcorn brand 4700BC crossed Rs. 100 crore in FY25, underscoring the growing role of cinema food beyond theatres.

Hariharan’s elevation reflects a broader shift in the industry, where food is no longer an add-on to entertainment but a standalone business shaping the future economics of multiplexes.

Avenue Supermarts, the company behind the DMart retail chain, reported steady topline growth in the December quarter, supported by store expansion and consistent consumer demand across its network. In a provisional business update for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, the retailer said its standalone revenue from operations rose 13 percent year on year to Rs 17,613 crore, compared with Rs 15,565 crore in the same period last year.

The Mumbai based company, promoted by investor Radhakishan Damani, ended the quarter with a total of 442 stores, underlining its continued focus on physical expansion even as competition intensifies across India’s organised retail sector. The company clarified that the revenue numbers shared are provisional and subject to revision when detailed quarterly results are announced.

While revenue momentum remained healthy, Avenue Supermarts’ stock performance has lagged broader market benchmarks. Over the past year, the shares have gained about 4 percent and are currently trading below both their 50 day and 200 day simple moving averages, reflecting investor caution around margins and near term profitability trends.

In the preceding September quarter, the retailer had reported revenue from operations of Rs 16,676 crore, marking a 15 percent increase from the year ago period. Net profit for that quarter rose 4 percent year on year to Rs 685 crore, though it declined sequentially from Rs 773 crore posted in the June quarter. On a standalone basis, total revenue in the September quarter grew 15.4 percent year on year to Rs 16,219 crore, while net profit increased 5 percent to Rs 747 crore.

Operating performance also showed improvement, with EBITDA for the September quarter rising 11.3 percent year on year to Rs 1,230 crore. The company had added eight new stores during that period.

The latest quarterly update indicates that Avenue Supermarts continues to deliver predictable revenue growth driven by scale and expansion. However, margin trends and cost pressures will remain key areas to watch when the company releases its full earnings report.

DSM Fresh Foods has taken a decisive step into India’s fast-expanding ready food market by approving the acquisition of a controlling stake in Avyom Foodtech Private Limited, signalling a strategic shift beyond its core fresh foods business. The board of the listed company, which operates under the ZappFresh brand, has cleared the purchase of 51 percent equity in Avyom Foodtech through a cash investment of about Rs 7.5 crore, marking its entry into ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook categories.

The move positions DSM Fresh Foods to tap into rising demand for convenience-led food solutions, driven by urban consumption patterns and higher penetration of frozen and processed foods. The structure of the transaction allows for future participation by strategic investors in Avyom Foodtech, subject to board approval, a step aimed at strengthening capital support while keeping operating leadership closely aligned with long-term growth plans.

As part of the wider transaction framework, Avyom Foodtech has signed a binding agreement to acquire the operating food processing business of Ambrozia Frozen Foods on a slump-sale basis. This acquisition brings with it around five acres of land, a fully functional processing plant, and installed machinery, along with related liabilities such as bank loans and trade payables. The assets are expected to give DSM immediate manufacturing capability without the delays and costs typically associated with building a facility from scratch.

According to disclosures, the acquired processing business has previously recorded peak annual revenues of about Rs 16 crore, offering proof of commercial viability. The facility operates under FSSAI approvals and is equipped for export-oriented production, providing DSM with a platform to explore overseas markets alongside domestic expansion.

Managing Director Deepanshu Manchanda said the acquisition marks a turning point for DSM Fresh Foods as it evolves into a broader food solutions company. By integrating processed foods with its existing strengths in sourcing, cold-chain management and distribution, the company aims to improve unit economics and build a scalable value-added foods vertical. The investment is expected to be rolled out in phases, aligning capital deployment with operational scale-up and demand growth.

Noida-based healthy snacking company Farmley closed FY25 on a stronger financial footing, riding a sharp rise in demand for better-for-you food options across India. The company’s operating revenue climbed to nearly Rs 400 crore in the year ended March 2025, marking a year-on-year growth of about 71 percent, according to filings with the Registrar of Companies. In comparison, Farmley had reported operating revenue of roughly Rs 230 crore in FY24.

The growth was powered by wider adoption of Farmley’s core product categories, including makhana-based snacks, roasted nuts and seeds, and date-centric offerings. These categories have gained traction as Indian consumers increasingly shift away from traditional fried snacks toward products positioned around health, convenience and clean ingredients. The company’s expanding presence across online marketplaces, quick commerce platforms and modern retail channels also contributed to higher volumes.

While expenses rose in line with scale-up efforts, Farmley succeeded in tightening losses during the year. Net loss narrowed by around 15 percent to Rs 22.5 crore in FY25, compared with Rs 26.5 crore in the previous fiscal. The improvement indicates better cost controls and improving contribution margins, even as the brand continued to invest in marketing, supply chain and product development.

Key profitability indicators showed incremental improvement, although they remained in the red. Return on capital employed stood at minus 51.56 percent, while EBITDA margin improved to minus 3.68 percent. Industry observers view these trends as early signs of healthier unit economics, particularly for a direct-to-consumer brand operating in a competitive packaged food market.

Farmley’s FY25 performance highlights the momentum building in India’s organised healthy snacking segment. Rising health awareness, changing lifestyles and higher willingness to pay for perceived nutrition are reshaping consumer baskets across urban and semi-urban markets. For Farmley, the combination of strong revenue growth and a narrowing loss base signals progress toward long-term sustainability, even as competition intensifies and brands race to balance scale with profitability.