JDE Peet’s has finalized the purchase of Maratá, a Brazilian coffee and tea company, for an undisclosed sum.
Maratá primarily conducts its coffee and tea business in the northern region of Brazil, featuring its brands Café Maratá and Chá Maratá.
The acquisition strengthens JDE’s existing portfolio of brands, primarily distributed in the southern regions of Brazil. Additionally, it increases the company’s scale and national presence in the country, with JDE characterizing the market as having “compelling opportunities for both volume and value growth.”
Fabien Simon, CEO of JDE, commented, “We are delighted to welcome Maratá’s coffee and tea organisation to JDE Peet’s. Maratá’s portfolio and geographical presence are highly complementary to our existing franchise in Brazil. Together, we will serve more cups across a full range of price points and product offerings while expanding our regional presence in Brazil, one of the world’s largest coffee markets.”
José Augusto Vieira, founder of JAV Group, added, “I am very proud of the strong and successful coffee and tea platform we have built, and I am very pleased that by joining JDE Peet’s, the world’s leading pure-play coffee & tea company, we have secured the long-term development and success of this great business”.
The Good Food Institute India (GFI India) conducted a study on consumer awareness of alternative proteins, revealing that the most experimented-with plant-based meat product is the chicken seekh kabab, followed by popcorn chicken, chicken samosa, and chicken biryani. In the realm of plant-based dairy products, soy milk emerged as the top choice, followed by almond milk and oat milk.
GFI India, in collaboration with Kantar World Panel, has introduced a comprehensive study examining consumer awareness, trial experiences, and purchasing behavior in the realm of plant-based meat and dairy products.
Rapid Growth: GFI India’s Analysis of the Sector
“Coinciding with the global phenomenon of Veganuary, which inspires millions to try plant-based diets every January, the report sheds light on the evolving landscape of consumer adoption of plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy. With 377 products spanning 41 formats and 73 brands, the sector has witnessed rapid growth over the past few years, presenting consumers with an array of choices in plant-based meat, dairy, and egg categories,” said GFI in a media release.
The research indicates that, in terms of taste, plant-based meat still falls short of competing with traditional meat.
“The plant-based meat has ways to go, as taste did not appear as the top driver for consumers to repurchase it. Some consumers who stopped purchasing the category also cited taste as the primary reason for not making repeat purchases. Plant-based dairy, on the other hand, scored well on taste but fell short in terms of versatility,” the study noted.
According to the study, consumers predominantly purchased plant-based dairy and meat from supermarkets, with kirana stores emerging as the second-largest channel for plant-based dairy sales, followed by e-commerce platforms.
“The most common quantities of plant-based milk purchased are 100–200 ml and 900–1000 ml. Soy milk is the most widely consumed plant-based dairy product followed by almond and oat milk. 89% of the users of plant-based dairy have also purchased animal- derived dairy products,” it stated.
Rajyalakshmi G, Market and Consumer Insights Advisor at The Good Food Institute India said, “To encourage trial and repeat purchases, it is crucial for manufacturers to focus on the trifecta of taste, affordability, and convenience.”
As per the report, consumption patterns indicate that plant-based options are presently consumed in a manner similar to their animal-derived counterparts.
“However, the latter is consumed more regularly, with plant-based options reserved for special occasions. Taste remains a significant driver for conventional meat consumption, highlighting the need to further improve the taste of plant-based meat,” the report stated.
TH International (Tims China), the sole franchisee of Tim Hortons coffee shops and Popeyes restaurants in China, has announced the opening of a new Popeyes store in Shanghai.
This marks the tenth Popeyes establishment for the company in the area.
The latest opening comes after Tims China acquired the exclusive rights to operate and franchise Popeyes in mainland China and Macau in March 2023.
Tims China has customized the Popeyes brand for the Chinese market, resulting in the sale of over 150,000 pieces of its original American crispy chicken.
The first flagship Popeyes restaurant in Shanghai, which opened in August 2023, showcased a localized menu fusing Cajun traditions with Chinese flavors. Items included sweet chili chicken, a Longjing tea-based pomelo milkshake, and golden cheese, along with Popeyes’ signature items such as New Orleans-style spicy chicken and Louisiana-style seafood.
TH International’s Ambitious Growth Plans in China
The company’s objective is to establish an additional 500 stores in China by 2028 and 1,700 stores within the decade leading up to 2033.
Tims China CEO Yongchen Lu said, “We are excited to reach this key milestone in four months. Between our Popeyes and Tim Hortons stores, we now operate 919 stores across China.
“We have seen a strong demand from our customers for our innovative products from both brands, and we are confident that this demand has a lot of room to grow even further from here.”
Established in 1972 in New Orleans, Popeyes is a quick-service chicken restaurant with a presence in 4,100 locations across the United States and worldwide.
It specialises in a New Orleans-style menu with items such as spicy chicken and fried shrimp.
TH International serves as the parent company for the exclusive master franchisees of Tim Hortons in Hong Kong, mainland China, and Macau, as well as for Popeyes in mainland China and Macau.
Cartesian Capital Group, in collaboration with Tim Hortons Restaurants International, founded Tims China.
The Uttar Pradesh Government has announced the closure of liquor outlets across the state, including cities such as Noida and Greater Noida, on January 22 in honor of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Additionally, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed the suspension of classes in all educational institutions statewide on that particular day.
In addition to this, two more dry days are scheduled for January. On January 14, liquor stores in the city will be closed to mark the celebration of Makar Sankranti, and on January 26, they will remain shut in observance of Republic Day.
A dry day signifies the prohibition of alcohol sales. As the sale of liquor falls under the jurisdiction of individual states, regulations regarding prohibition vary throughout the country.
India observes national dry days on significant occasions such as Republic Day (January 26), Independence Day (August 15), and Gandhi Jayanti (October 2). Additionally, there are restricted dry days that supplement the national dry days and can vary from state to state. These usually coincide with religious holidays and election days.
State-level dry days, such as the one declared on January 22, are specific to particular states and are marked on specific occasions. In some instances, states may enforce these dry days on the day of a state election.
Barista Coffee, the homegrown coffee chain, marked a significant milestone with the inauguration of its latest branch in New Delhi, bringing the total number of stores to 400, as announced on the company’s social media platform on Tuesday.
Presently, its coffee shops can be found in over 120 cities spanning India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka, establishing itself as the foremost coffee chain in the region with a network of more than 30 outlets.
“As we celebrate 23 years of our legacy, our 400th cafe stands as a testament to our incredible journey. From that first pour in 2000, shaping India’s early café culture, to now spreading warmth in over 120 cities, we’ve crafted more than just a cup of coffee,” said Barista Coffee in a LinkedIn post.
The 400th store is located in close proximity to the Rajiv Chowk Metro Station in New Delhi.
“Our journey has been marked by growth, innovation, and dedication to meeting the needs of our guests. With the opening of this 400th store, we are taking a giant leap forward in reaching more communities and making our products accessible to everyone,” stated Rajat Agrawal, chief executive officer of Barista Coffee on social media.
Barista Coffee’s Growth Vision: Targeting 500 Stores by 2024
According to Agrawal, the coffee retailer has set its sights on reaching the 500-store milestone by 2024.
Established in 2000 under the name Barista Coffee Company Ltd., the brand started its venture with the goal of delivering an international coffee experience to its customers.
The coffee chain’s network revenue for fiscal year (FY) 2023 stands at approximately INR 190 crore, according to Agarwal. Looking ahead to the end of FY24, the goal is to surpass the INR 250 crore mark, as outlined by Agarwal.
Zomato, the online food delivery platform, launched a new feature on Wednesday called “daily payouts” to offer support to its emerging restaurant partners.
Currently, the feature is accessible for restaurant partners managing 100 orders or fewer per month, as per the company’s announcement.
“Our discussions with various restaurant partners highlighted the financial challenges smaller eateries face, using the traditional weekly payout system. This feature is designed to address this critical need for more frequent access to earnings,” Zomato said in a blogpost.
The key features of daily payouts include no additional charges, improved cash flow, and increased flexibility in administration.
The ‘no extra cost’ feature allows for a seamless transition from weekly to daily payouts without additional fees; the ‘improved cash flow‘ facilitates daily settlement of transactions based on sales from three days prior, and the ‘flexibility in management’ provides a smooth switch between daily and weekly payouts through the Zomato Restaurant Partner App.
Availing Zomato’s Daily Payout Option:
Interested restaurant partners can avail themselves of the daily payout option by navigating to the Payout section in the Zomato Restaurant Partner App.
Meanwhile, Zomato has raised its mandatory platform fee from INR 3 to INR 4 per order in key markets. The updated rates came into effect on January 1.
Bharat Sethi, the Founder and CEO of Rage Coffee, announced that the D2C coffee startup achieved INR 100 Crore in cumulative brand sales in December 2023.
Sethi shared the news on LinkedIn, stating, “I’m delighted to share that a new age coffee company that most wrote off before it started and many thought as taking on a battle ‘not worth fighting’ hit INR 100 Cr in cumulative brand sales in Dec 2023 towards the end of its 4th year of operations.”
“We achieved this figure before the beginning of our 5th year and let me tell you, a lot of it is mad hustle, execution capabilities, support of our investors and partners who’ve backed us with tremendous belief in us and most important our customers and team,” he added.
Sethi said that the startup successfully overcame several challenges to reach this milestone despite having only 5-7 SKUs.
More than 3.2 million customers have experienced the brand’s diverse range of products, spanning sachets to jars. This exposure occurred both directly and through collaborations with Horeca partners, with a substantial 80% engagement observed in the past 24 months, according to Sethi. Emphasizing the brand’s versatility, the CEO asserted that the coffee brand has successfully reached customers through a combination of online and offline channels, encompassing hyperlocal platforms and marketplaces. Notably, there is no reliance on a singular channel for customer acquisition.
Established in 2019, Rage Coffee is one of the world’s first plant-based vitamin coffee brands. The startup claims to use handpicked beans from Ethiopian and Indian plantations.
Beyond Instant Coffee: Diversification of Rage Coffee Products
It has diversified beyond instant coffee, now offering products such as cold coffee brew bags, frothers, and other merchandise. In 2022, the brand entered the realm of snack bars and cookies, introducing gluten-free snacks free of preservatives. Additionally, the company established a 30,000-square-foot manufacturing unit in Gurugram.
Rage Coffee experienced a revenue surge, achieving over a fivefold increase to INR 23.5 Cr in the fiscal year 2022, compared to INR 4.5 Cr in the fiscal year 2021.
Rage Coffee has set a revenue goal of INR 500 Cr for the year 2025.
The startup has secured investments from notable backers, including Sixth Sense Ventures, Refex Capital, and 9Unicorns.
Rebel Foods, the world’s largest internet restaurant brand and the master franchise holder for Wendy’s in India, has just unveiled Wendy’s first airport dine-in store at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. In collaboration with Travel Food Services, this new establishment marks Wendy’s entry into the Indian airport retail sector.
The cloud kitchen enterprise exclusively manages Wendy’s cloud kitchen (delivery-only) and conventional restaurants throughout India, further solidifying its dedication to expanding the brand’s reach across various touchpoints. Presently, Wendy’s is established in over 100 locations across more than 20 cities in India, with a goal to extend its presence to 250+ locations within the next decade. This expansion is in response to Karnataka emerging as the second-largest market for Wendy’s in India, closely following New Delhi.
The newly inaugurated store is thoughtfully designed to cater to both take-away and dine-in patrons, operating 24×7 to accommodate the diverse schedules of travelers passing through the airport.
The new store will feature self-ordering kiosks to ensure a seamless and personalized experience. Patrons can indulge in Wendy’s signature and flavor-fresh range, along with globally renowned marquee products, including the iconic Frosty. The new store will also enable passengers to enjoy burgers on the go with easy takeaway options.
Ankush Grover, Co-founder and CEO – India and MENA, Rebel Foods, said “As we mark the launch of Wendy’s first airport dine-in store at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, we’re not just stepping into the Indian airport retail sector; we’re entering a new era of culinary convenience. Over the last few years, we have worked extensively on making Wendy’s accessible to wider audiences PAN-India, and the opening of this first store at the airport is a milestone in that journey. Our focus is on bringing the same taste and experience to 30+ million travellers who pass through Kempegowda International Airport, as Wendy’s is known worldwide”
Rebel Foods’ Digital Approach to Enhancing Wendy’s Brand
Rebel will continue to enhance the brand’s presence in India by leveraging digital expertise in delivery, automation, and innovation. Since its debut in India in 2020, Wendy’s has adeptly adapted its menu to cater to local tastes and preferences. This includes introducing favorites like the Spicy Aloo Crunch Burger, their crispiest fries, and the recently launched Flavor Fresh burger range, featuring distinctive and refreshing options such as the Firebolt Tandoori burger, Lord Cheesynator, and Nachoburg.
Cheesiano Group, a prominent player in the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) sector, has achieved a significant milestone with over 10,000 repeated customers in the month of December 2023. This accomplishment stands as a testament to Cheesiano’s commitment to delivering fine taste, promising the best quality experiences, and building a loyal customer base.
Cheesiano Group: 3 Brands, 10 Crores in Sales
Since its establishment, Cheesiano Group has undergone extraordinary expansion, introducing three thriving brands and attaining a monthly gross sales figure surpassing 10 crores. Over the last 15 months, there has been an impressive 4x growth in both order volume and sales, highlighting the brand’s widespread popularity and strong acceptance among customers.
Niraj Bora, Co-Founder of Cheesiano Group, said, “We are thrilled to reach this milestone, and it reflects the trust and loyalty our customers place in us. Our continued focus on quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction has been the driving force behind Cheesiano’s success.”
The group remains committed to providing delectable culinary delights and aims to further elevate the customer experience in the coming years.
Papa John’s, a popular high street pizza chain, is gearing up to shutter several locations across the UK this year due to rising costs.
The global pizza chain, with 524 establishments in the UK, is reportedly set to close “dozens” of branches in the country, as indicated by reports from the Sun. According to statements from Papa John’s to investors, the company foresees “additional strategic restaurant closures of low-performing restaurants” as part of an effort to enhance its profitability.
Nevertheless, according to an insider, the closures might impact as many as 100 Papa John’s locations. Papa John’s has chosen not to disclose the precise number of stores that could be closed in the coming year.
Papa John’s Response: Operational Optimization Plan
A spokesperson for Papa John’s said, “As we work to fully optimize our restaurant operations and improve profitability across the market, we will continue evaluating the growth potential of our restaurants. This includes working collaboratively with our franchisees to strategically close low-performing locations when necessary, as well as continuing to invest in the right locations for the benefit of our customers. We will work to fully support team members through any transitions.”
Nevertheless, the spokesperson stated that “no definitive decisions have been reached at this point” regarding which locations, or how many, might eventually close.
Papa John’s stands as the second-largest pizza takeaway brand in the UK, trailing behind Domino’s. With 118 branches under its ownership and 406 franchise stores, Papa John’s made its debut in Essex in 1999, reaching a milestone in 2013 with the opening of its 200th UK store. Over the past year, Papa John closed 22 branches, but concurrently, it inaugurated 15 new sites.
It comes on the heels of the announcement that Revolution bars will be closing eight of their branches, a response to the financial challenges faced by their young target audience amid the cost-of-living crisis. The group has categorized these specific locations as “unprofitable.”
The company announced the closure of Revolution sites in Beaconsfield, Derby, Reading, St Peters Liverpool, and Wilmslow. Efforts are underway to redeploy staff from these locations. Additionally, two Revolucion de Cuba sites in Sheffield and Southampton, along with the Playhouse in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, will also be closed. The exact date of the closures has not been confirmed.
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