Bikanervala inches closer to fetch Rs 200 crore fresh funds from PE Funds

Bikanervala, a leading name in India’s traditional savories and sweets market, has furthered its retail expansion with the grand opening of two new outlets on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. This latest development marks a significant milestone for the brand as it solidifies its presence in India’s culinary scene.

Bikanervala, known for its authentic Indian flavors and quality, also offers a multi-cuisine dining experience at its dine-in outlets, catering to diverse tastes. The new outlets, each spread over 4000+ sq. ft. and with a seating capacity of over 110, are designed to provide a comfortable dining experience for travelers and locals alike.

Shyam Sundar Aggarwal, Managing Director of Bikanervala Foods Pvt Ltd said, "We are thrilled to announce the inauguration of our new store at the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. This expansion reflects our commitment to providing our patrons with unparalleled culinary experiences while staying true to our heritage."

The company plans to add at least 50 outlets in 2024. Aggarwal noted, "At Bikanervala, we understand that expansion is essential for business growth. By strategically opening our new store at a high-traffic location like the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, we aim to tap into a new market segment and increase our brand visibility. This move not only strengthens our foothold in the industry but also creates opportunities for further expansion and revenue generation."

Suresh Goel, CEO of Bikanervala Foods Pvt Ltd said, "The opening of our new store at the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway underscores our commitment to providing convenient access to our delectable offerings to travellers and locals alike. We are excited to introduce our esteemed patrons to a culinary journey filled with flavors and memories. Expansion is a key component of our marketing strategy. By strategically expanding our presence to busy locations like the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, we will not only increase our customer base but also strengthen our brand presence in the market. Our goal is to leverage this expansion to drive customer engagement, foster brand loyalty, and ultimately propel our growth trajectory.”

Bikanervala’s restaurants attract over 1 crore footfalls monthly, a figure that increases during festive seasons. The addition of the new outlets on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is expected to significantly boost the company’s overall business, enhancing its retail presence and customer reach in India.

Specialty coffee brand 93 Degrees Coffee Roasters opens two new shop-in-shop outlets on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in collaboration with multinational snack giant Bikanervala.

These two strategically located outlets with this fusion concept, aim at offering their customers the best gourmet coffee from 93 Degrees Coffee Roasters and with traditional Indian flavors from Bikanervala.

“This collaboration between 93 Degrees Coffee Roasters and Bikanervala offers a unique ambiance where patrons can enjoy high-quality specialty coffee alongside authentic Indian sweets and snacks. Additionally, the outlet's location on a highway makes it a perfect pitstop for travelers, providing a refreshing break with a diverse menu,” shared Mishthi Aggarwal, CEO, 93 Degrees Coffee Roasters.

The new outlets offer a wide range of coffee options to cater to various tastes and preferences. Customers can enjoy classic choices such as Espresso, Cold Brew, Cafe Latte, and traditional Cappuccino. For those who prefer a more indulgent treat, there's a selection of Frappe flavors. Coffee enthusiasts can also savor manually brewed options like Aeropress and Pour-Over, ensuring a specialty coffee experience for all.  

93 Degrees Coffee Roasters stores size is designed to accommodate a comfortable seating area for customers, providing an inviting atmosphere for both quick stops and longer breaks. Meanwhile, this shop-in-shop model will allow both 93 Degrees Coffee Roasters and Bikanervala to leverage each other's strengths.

For 93 Degrees Coffee Roasters, partnering with Bikanervala will allow the brand to have access to an established customer base and high footfall, especially from those who are already fans of Bikanervala's offerings.

“We are excited to open our doors to 93 Degrees Coffee Roasters. For Bikanervala, this integration with 93 Degrees Coffee Roaster’s specialty coffee options will enhance our product range, attracting coffee enthusiasts and creating a more comprehensive culinary experience. This model also optimizes space and reduces operational costs. Our location is our big USP and this collaboration I am sure will help both the brands reach a wider customer base,” added Shyam Sunder Aggarwal, Managing Director, Bikanervala Foods Pvt Ltd.

Bikanervala has joined hands with The Montana group from Punjab to further expand its footprint in domestic and international markets. 

This collaboration marks a milestone for further expansion and aims to reach out to a broader audience, shared Bikanervala in a statement.

“It is a privilege to work with the iconic brand of India and the entire team will put best possible effort to make this brand a global leader in years to come,” shared Manoj Madhukar, CEO, The Montana Group.

Bikanervala started its operations as a small sweet shop at Bikaner, in Rajasthan in 1905. Over the years, it has expanded its portfolio to include restaurants and snack businesses.

Presently, Bikanervala is operating 175 sweet shop-cum-restaurant outlets in India as well as in international markets like the UAE, the US, Singapore, New Zealand, and Nepal.

“In the domestic market, the focus areas will be Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir in the Northern part, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in the Southern part and Maharashtra in the Western part of the country,” added Suresh Kumar, CEO, Bikanervala.

In the international market, the US, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom will be the focused markets, the company said.
 

Lala Kedarnath Aggarwal, the man who made the Bikanervala a brand to reckon with expired on Monday.

Known for once selling bhujia and rasgullas in buckets on the streets of old Delhi before establishing sweets and snacks brand Bikanervala, he was 86 at the time of the death.

“The demise of Mr. Aggarwal, fondly known as Kakaji, marked the end of an era that has enriched palates and touched countless lives," shared an official statement from Bikanervala.

Today, Bikanervala operates in more than 60 outlets in India and has presence in countries such as the USA, New Zealand, Singapore, Nepal and the UAE.

"Kakaji's departure is not just a loss to Bikanervala; it's a void in the culinary landscape. His vision and leadership will forever guide our culinary journey," Shyam Sunder Aggarwal, MD, Bikanervala.

Hailing from Bikaner, his family owned a sweet shop in the bylanes of old Delhi since 1905. The shop was named as Bikaner Namkeen Bhandar and used to sell a few varieties of sweets and snacks.

Aggarwal, who had larger ambitions, migrated to Delhi in the early 50s along with his brother Satyanarayan Aggarwal, bringing his family recipe to the city.

Initially, both struggled with carrying buckets filled with bhujia and rasgulla, selling in the streets of old Delhi. However, the Aggarwal brothers' hard work and the unique taste of Bikaner soon gained recognition and acceptance in city of Delhi.

Later Aggarwal brothers set up a shop in Delhi's Chandini Chowk, where they used their family recipes which were handed down from generation to generation.

The two brothers and the shop soon became popular as Bikanervala.

"As we bid farewell to a legend, we carry forward his legacy with a deep sense of responsibility. Bikanervala will continue to be a reflection of his values – a place where every dish tells a story and every customer is part of our extended family,” added Radhey Mohan Aggarwal, Director of Bikanervala Group and eldest son of Kakaji.
 

Bikanervala, country’s leading manufacturer of traditional Indian savouries and sweets, and that also provides multi-cuisine experience at its dine-in outlets, launched its tenth restaurant in the city today.

The new outlet is located at Golf Course Extension Road in Sector 57, Gurgaon.

With the opening of this Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) format outlet in the ‘Maximum City,’ the food and snack giant that also owns the iconic Bikano brand known for its packaged snacks, has completed an impressive 150 restaurants in all, including those abroad.

The new QSR outlet also hosts an enticing sweet shop while also offering a range of mouth-watering beverages and other products. Possessing a seating capacity of 200 and with ample open space in and around the premises, the restaurant can accommodate as many as 250 patrons at a time.

Notably, the company has plans to add at least 10 more such outlets in the Gurgaon region in 2023. And globally, the brand is all set to launch its first outlet in Canada very soon apart from adding two new outlets in UAE very shortly.   

“With this new restaurant placed at a strategic location in Gurgaon, we wish to give the food lovers in the area and beyond not only the most authentic and original ethnic Indian food but also tickle their palates with our multi-cuisine fare. Believing in a dynamic menu that continues to evolve with respect to time and place, the menu apart from offering time-tested popular recipes at this new outlet also includes a range of newly-added dishes with an eye on winning the hearts and minds of the local food lovers. The sweet shop with its delightful range of Indian sweets will particularly be a big draw for people” said Shyam Sundar Aggarwal, Managing Director, Bikanervala Foods Pvt Ltd.

On an average, Bikanervala restaurants see a staggering 1 crore footfalls in a month, a number which increases even further during festive seasons. The latest addition in Gurgaon and the upcoming additions elsewhere will be an enormous boost for the company’s overall business.  

“We are indeed overjoyed to be welcoming the New Year on a high note with this opening of our tenth restaurant in a city which is known for its penchant for food and eating out. Over the years Bikanervala has expanded its footprint across the country including South India and even to foreign shores,” added Ashok Aggarwal, Director, Bikanervala Foods Pvt Ltd.   

Indian sweet and snack makers Bikanervala is now onboard with E-commerce enabler ANS Commerce.

ANS Commerce is looking at expanding the brand’s portfolio and offering services under a single umbrella.

The FMCG brand will gain unrestricted access to ANS Commerce’s tech-powered e-commerce solution with pre-integrated payment gateways, omni-channel delivery and real-time inventory sync, shared a statement from ANS.

“Through this association, Bikanervala will be able to feature its products on ANS Commerce’s brandstore giving it a digital platform and wider reach,” added the statement.

“We have created Kartify, an international standard tech platform to serve brands in India,” shared Amit Monga, Co-Founder, ANS Commerce.

Other brands the group works with include Vero Moda, Piramal NSE -0.04 %, Marico NSE 0.91 % and ITC.

Desi halwai and snacks maker Haldiram’s revenues grew 13 percent to cross Rs 4,000 crore in FY16 shrugging increased scrutiny from food regulator amid the Maggi crisis. The Indian snack major is now twice the size of Hindustan Unilever's packaged food division or Nestle Maggi and larger than the India turnover of the two American fast food rivals Domino’s and McDonald’s put together.

The company has three distinct areas of operations with Haldiram Snacks and Ethnic Foods with that clocked Rs 2,136 crore from the northern region, Nagpur based Haldiram Foods International that caters to western and southern markets with annual sales of Rs 1,613 crore and a much smaller company, Haldiram Bhujiawala, for the eastern market with revenues of Rs 298 crore in FY16, according to data from Tofler, a company research platform.

These figures, when combined with other regional snacking firms, conclusively demonstrates one thing — in fast food or munchies, despite the profusion of MNC brands with high cool quotient, good Indian palate prefers local savouries.

Komal Agarwal, fourth generation member of the founding family, said, "We have increased our reach and developed products in-house that ensure quality control. We also understand Indian palate well and that comes handy while launching new products."

Haldiram races past MNCs & regional rivals like HUL's food division, Bikanervala with revenue of over Rs 4,000 crore.

Haldiram’s is the biggest brand of those launched by Agarwals and the second largest Indian food brand after Parle. While restaurants and casual dining was the beginning, packaged products now make up 80 percent of revenues. Haldiram’s is by far the market leader in traditional snacks market and bigger than five of its regional rivals — Balaji Wafers, Prataap Snacks, Bikanervala, Bikaji Foods and DFM Foods — combined.

Devendra Chawla, President of Future Group, said, "Food is culture in the country and Indian food should do well. But consumers are experimenting with food and it is under scrutiny. Companies would have to adapt and stay relevant especially for millennials."