Rebel Foods is set to make a significant investment of Rs 100-150 crore aimed at partnering with the American fast-food giant, Wendy’s, to broaden its reach in India. This strategic move is part of Wendy’s ambitious plan to open 1,000 new restaurants globally by 2028. With an existing presence of 200 locations in India, Wendy’s is looking to ramp up its operations significantly in the coming years.

Wendy’s Growth Plans in India

Currently, Wendy’s operates 185 cloud kitchens and 15 offline stores in India. The company has set a goal to increase its footprint by adding 300 new locations through collaboration with its local partner, Rebel Foods. The focus will primarily be on establishing delivery-only cloud kitchens, catering to the growing demand for online food delivery.

• Current locations: 200 (185 cloud kitchens, 15 offline)
• New locations planned: 300
• Focus on cloud kitchens for deliveries

Future Projections by Rebel Foods

Ankush Grover, the co-founder and CEO of Rebel Foods in India, stated, “In the next 2.5 to 3 years, we anticipate growing to around 700 cloud kitchen locations, with at least 70% dedicated to Wendy’s.” This expansion reflects the rising trend of cloud kitchens, which allow brands to optimize delivery services while minimizing overhead costs.

Rebel Foods’ Expanding Portfolio

Rebel Foods, which also operates popular brands like Faasos, Oven Story, Behrouz Biryani, Smoor, and Slay Coffee, secured the exclusive rights to develop Wendy’s cloud kitchens in India back in 2020. In 2023, they further solidified their partnership by transitioning from a previous arrangement with Sierra Nevada to focus on expanding Wendy’s offline presence.

Recently, the company launched EatSure, an online food ordering platform that aggregates its various brands. They have introduced a rapid 15-minute delivery service called QuickiES, which initially rolled out in Mumbai and is set to expand to additional major cities.

Financial Performance and Future Plans

As of now, Rebel Foods operates over 450 cloud kitchens across 75 cities not only in India but also in regions like the Middle East, North Africa, Indonesia, and the UK. For the financial year 2024, the company reported impressive growth with a revenue of Rs 1,420 crore, marking a 19% increase from Rs 1,195 crore in FY23. Notably, their losses have decreased by 42%, with the EBITDA burn dropping below Rs 10 crore by December 2024.

After successfully raising $210 million in a Series G funding round led by Temasek, Rebel Foods is now preparing for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) within the next 18 to 24 months. This anticipated IPO could further propel their expansion and innovation in the competitive food tech landscape.

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