How Kolkata's F&B Industry Surges Ahead Inviting New, Exciting Opportunities

Kolkata’s F&B scene is ever-growing; all thanks to the foodies that the city boast of that makes it more vibrant and fertile for the restaurants and beverages brand to expand and grow.

Despite the challenges faced by the overall F&B market, the Kolkata-based F&B players have been experiencing an impressive upsurge in expansion.

From legendary outlet Aminia that is known for its delectable delicacies, home-grown momo chain Wow! Momo to beverages brand like The Yellow Straw and newly opened coffee player like Craft Coffee amongst others are brewing success.

Aminia recently opened a new outlet in Kolaghat, showcasing their commitment to bringing their authentic flavours to new markets. The brand is also targeting to launch two more outlets by the end of the year, solidifying its position as a leading player in the Kolkata F&B landscape.

“In the last fiscal year, Aminia achieved an impressive annual turnover of approximately 80-100 crores. Looking ahead, we envision a strong growth trajectory over the next five years, driven by unwavering love and support of our customers. As part of the plan for 2023-2024, we aim to open several more outlets in Kolkata and explore opportunities in the overseas markets, particularly in the UAE. Additionally, we plan to expand our presence locally by adding another outlet in Kolkata by the end of this year,” shared Azra Asher Ather, Director of Sales, Aminia.

Growing on popularity, The Yellow Straw grown from one outlet to its 14th outlet at South City Mall. In the fiscal year 2022-23, The Yellow Straw achieved remarkable financial success, generating a revenue of 601.78 lakhs. With an impressive EBITDA of around 11% and a consistent upward trend in EBITDA margin over the past three years.

“We take pride in our strong position as the dominant player, holding over 75% market share in Eastern India's juice and salad industry. With juice, shakes, and salads contributing to about 80% of our revenue, we are well-positioned to capitalise on the projected 50% growth rate in the juice industry for the next 7 to 10 years,” pointed Vikram Khinwasara and Piyush Kankaria, Co-Founders, The Yellow Straw.

These developments not only showcase the resilience of the F&B industry in Kolkata but also present an array of prospects for collaboration and partnerships.

Milee Droog, a popular establishment that successfully reopened its doors after the COVID-19 pandemic, is already setting its sights on expansion. Alongside plans for their second outlet, Milee Droog is also venturing into a new bakery section, exploring exciting opportunities to cater to the growing demand for their delectable baked goods.

“We, at Milee Droog, started our operations last November, after the COVID-19 pandemic. As we haven’t yet completed a full year of operations, it will be a little difficult to provide precise details regarding our annual turnover. Speaking of Milee Droog’s prospects over the next five years, well it looks quite promising. We are well-positioned to attract and retain a loyal customer base,” Rohan Sarkar, Managing Partner, Milee Droog Coffee & Bistro.

The brand has set sights on metropolitan areas and aim to target major cities that appreciate progressive food, especially the ones from the Slavic regions over a glitzy ambience.

As Kolkata’s culinary scene continues to evolve, these brands anticipate a favourable environment for the cafe’s future growth and success.

Recently opened Craft Coffee that has recently opened its second outlet in Salt lake is planning to expand their footprint.

“Well, the key revenue drivers for Craft Coffee typically include cafe dine-in sales, the sale of merchandise related to specialty coffee, and the supply of roasted coffee beans and blends to other cafes and markets. Additionally, as we have developed our e-commerce presence, online sales may become another important revenue driver for us. These revenue streams have contributed to the brand’s overall turnover and financial performance,” mentioned Abhinav and Dipraj, Co-Founders, Craft Coffee.

The brand growth goals for the next 3-5 years entail mostly expansions. It aims to expand to 8 to 10 cities and have approximately 100 outlets. The expansion plan includes a mix of tier-1 and tier-2 cities.

The city's food culture is thriving and now is the perfect time to align with these pioneering players to leverage their success and contribute to the vibrant culinary scene.