Burger Singh to open 40 outlets in Gujarat

Burger Singh, a brand of fusion burgers has signed a master franchise deal in Gujarat through which it will open 40 outlets in the next two years in various cities, including Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot. 

The 40 outlets will be a mix of dine-in and take away outlets along with some strategically placed cloud kitchens. The Master Franchise will seek suitable sub-franchisees in the area, stated an official release on Friday.

“Gujarat has a vibrant food market with huge potential… There is also a massive market for vegetarian food. We are already known for our wide range of vegetarian burgers, and we are introducing some very special vegetarian products, especially for Gujarat,” said Rahul Seth, Chief of Staff, Burger Singh. The company already has 50 outlets in the country.

The Master Franchise in Gujarat has been taken up by Balaji FoodWorks, a company established by entrepreneurs Harshil Soni and Yash Patel.

 

Seekruit India’s First Recruitment Process Aggregator Platform Expands its presence

Virtual Recruitments: A New Era of a LOW TOUCH ECONOMY

With the pandemic affecting all our industries and modifying business and consumer behaviour for years to come, it is very evident that technology will play an extremely crucial roles in the survivability, sustenance, evolution and growth of businesses. All industries have to adopt Digital Transformation with utmost urgency and one of the industries most affected by this disruption is evidently the man-power driven recruitment industry. We foresee large aspects of the recruitment industry will go through partial or full automation using technology and digital platforms that will aid social distancing and reduce un-necessary human travel and human contact.

 At Seekruit, the mission is quite simple. In fact, it is not different from what all companies aspire for – to be the best at what they do. Seekruit HR Technologies Private Limited wants to establish itself among the leading providers of HR and Recruitment Services in India. The aim is to build rock-solid relationships with clients while delivering tailor made solutions and ensuring total satisfaction.

Seekruit thrive on a single-minded philosophy of “providing complete solutions to the patrons”. They provide total and transparent services to the clients so that they incur cost, which is to their benefit. This in fact forms the basis for Seekruit existence. Seekruit is focused towards providing different solution to  different hiring needs which makes them different from traditional HR service providers.

Their strength is the information and the knowledge base added to the experience of its people who are experts in the industry with a support of Technology can provide tailor made solution to cater all  recruitment needs. The company is strongly working on Data Management with a strong Big data team and use of artificial intelligence to provide strong database of right fit and certified talent. Seekruit is proud of the fact that the clients value their ability to deliver the right service for them.

There has been some initiation of using technology for recruitment however the scope of that has been very limited. In current situation, virtual recruitments are done through video calls over skype and other video calling apps which requires the hr and candidate to synchronise their availability at all time . This type of process has been challenging hence difficult to scale.

There has also been virtualisation that has tried to remove some of the stake-holders of the recruitment process like the recruiter, assessor, data team etc. and this is also not practical for a successful and scalable business model as each stake-holder has their unique proposition to the process.

Seekruit is India’s First career aggregator technology platform, which connects Corporate, i.e. who are looking forward to recruit the staff, and the candidate, i.e. who are looking out for a job.

Trek Bicycle looks to expand presence in India.

American cycling brand Trek Bicycle plans to expand its reach to around 125 cities in India by adding 20-25 retail stores each year for the next three years, a top company official said. The company, which sells premium and super premium bicycles, currently has presence in around 41 cities in the country with about 45 retail stores based on franchise format.

"In terms of expanding our presence in the country, we plan to open 20-25 stores each year with an aim to be present in 125 cities by 2022," Trek Bicycle India Country Manager Navneet Banka said. There is a huge shift in the mindset of people towards healthy lifestyle and fitness which is fuelling growth of cycling industry in the country, he added.

Besides fitness, a lot of youngsters are also taking up cycling as a sport which is also a positive sign for the industry, Banka said. The Trek range in India starts at Rs 29,000 and depending on consumer specifications and customisation, the performance bicycles can cost up to Rs 20 lakh.

The company has so far sold over 30,000 bicycles in the country and has even tied up with financial institutions for finance options to buy its products from its authorised retail stores. Trek started selling premium bicycles in India via distributors in 2007 and last year established a 100 per cent subsidiary in the country.

When asked if the company plans to set up local manufacturing in the country, Banka said that for the time being it will keep on making its products available by importing them from various countries like the US, Germany, China and Taiwan. Trek currently offers more than 30 bicycle models in the country across road, mountain, and hybrid range along with accessories, merchandise and riding gear.

As per industry estimates, the size of cycling market in India is around 16.3 million units per year currently. Trek caters to the super-premium segment which is currently around 30,000 units annually and has grown at a CAGR of 20 per cent over the past five years.

Radisson Hotels to introduce Spanish cuisine in India

Radisson Hotel Group has signed an exclusive master franchise agreement (MFA) with Tapas Club, a Singapore-based food and drink (F&D) brand, to roll out a series of stylish Spanish restaurants across its extensive portfolio of hotels in India. 

Under the new deal, Radisson Hotel Group will have exclusive use of the Tapas Club name in India, allowing it to introduce premium Spanish cuisine to its guests, who are always on the lookout for new experiences. These lively restaurants will also attract local residents and non-resident guests to dine at Radisson Hotel Group’s hotels. 

“Tapas Club is an excellent strategic fit for our business in India, where F&D trends point to the rising popularity of innovative cuisine. We are excited to introduce a new era of dynamic Spanish dining, tailored to Indian palates, to our hotels across the country. We aim to become flagbearers of Spanish cuisine in India,” Katerina Giannouka, president, Asia Pacific, Radisson Hotel Group, said.

The company plans to open more than 10 restaurants in the next four years and will deploy top chefs trained in Spanish cuisine across its Indian hotels and resorts.

Tapas Club was conceived to bring contemporary Spanish cuisine to the Asian market. Already present in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, its restaurants specialize in authentic dishes that embrace the vibrant colors and flavors of the Iberian Peninsula. This makes it the perfect addition to the Indian F&D market, where diners – especially millennials – are increasingly seeking fresh and unique culinary adventures. According to a study by Deloitte, millennials now account for 34% of India’s population and spend almost a third of their disposable income on entertainment and eating out. 

“We are delighted to bring Tapas Club to India and look forward to adding value to our esteemed guests and partners. F&D is an important area for our business in India and we are exploring strategic tie-ups with other leading, high-quality culinary brands to further uplift our presence in this sphere,” Zubin Saxena, MD and VP, operations, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group, said.

Rakesh Sethi, Radisson Hotel Group’s corporate executive chef in India, will work alongside the Tapas Club team to create extraordinary dishes that blend Indian flavours with Iberian flair. The menu will comprise of specialty dishes such as paella, Spanish omelette, croquettes, contemporary tapas and delectable desserts. All dishes will reflect Indian palates, with plenty of vegetarian options.

“It is our privilege to partner with Radisson Hotel Group in India, where the brand has operated for over 20 years and earned a huge brand equity. We are working with experts like chef Sethi, to delve deep into India's rich culinary culture and develop new dishes that will delight foodies all over the country,” Jose Alonso, executive chef, Tapas Club, said.

Radisson Hotel Group now operates 94 hotels in India and this strategic partnership with Tapas Club is the latest in a series of moves to enhance the group's F&D offerings in India, the company added.

IIFL Group acquires majority stake in Infigo

IIFL Asset Management Ltd (IIFL AMC) has acquired a majority stake in Infigo Lifesciences through IIFL India Private Equity Fund through an unspecified amount.

Infigo, which started with six centres — four eye care hospitals and two 3D eye clinics in Mumbai, is planning to start a chain of speciality eye care centres in India.

The company plans to open a total of 15 centres within one year, with ten centres in Mumbai and the remaining five spread across Maharashtra. IIFL India PE Fund will look to invest up to ₹70 crore in multiple tranches to pre-defined business milestones for setting up over 20 centres, the company said.

 “India is witnessing an interesting trend with people preferring to visit branded specialty centers for their healthcare needs. In a country where most eye care practices are individually-run and often lack protocols or standards, there is an opportunity to create a pan-India franchise of speciality eye care centres. The current gap in demand and supply and increasing consumer preference for branded chains presents a unique opportunity,” said Prashasta Seth, Senior Managing Partner, IIFL AMC. 

“There is a huge void for quality eye care service at an affordable cost and IIFL’s support and guidance will help us fill this void and build an accountable institution with qualitative clinical outcomes. All our hospitals will be eyeing at NABH accreditation in immediate future,” said Dr. Shridhar Thakur, Founder of Infigo Lifesciences. 

IIFL AMC launched the IIFL India Private Equity Fund, a close-ended SEBI-registered Category II Alternative Investment Fund, in May 2018. The fund seeks to back professional entrepreneurs at an early stage in emerging sectors like healthcare, technology, financial services and consumer goods. 

Korean lifestyle brand Mumuso planning to boost their retail presence

South Korean lifestyle brand Mumuso expansion strategy is to expand its presence all over India and is aiming at a business turnover of Rs 1,000 crore with over 300 outlets by mid-2022, a top company official said.

As part of its expansion, Mumuso would have a blend of both the company-owned and franchise stores.

It would invest between Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1.2 crore towards setting the company owned and franchise stores.

The company, which had entered the Indian market in September, 2018 with its stores in Kolkata and Mumbai, plans to expand to other metro, tier I and tier II cities as it is banking on range of affordable products.

Besides, the company plans to go online to tap into the rapid growing   e-commerce business in the country.

“ India being a fast emerging market for retail industry, they are expecting an accelerated growth in a short span of time,” he said.

Mumuso offerings includes health and beauty products, fashion home accessories to apparel and digital products. 

The new stores are expected to open  in cities such as Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, 
Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, Goa, Jaipur, Indore and Surat. 

The company is also planning to source locally special apparels and small leather products. 
As per the FDI norms, it is mandatory to source 30 per cent goods from India in single brand retail trade. 
Currently, Mumuso has presence in around 30 countries.

Myntra to sub-franchise Mango stores in India

Myntra.com, the country’s largest online fashion retailer, is close to signing up two sub-franchisees to manage Mango stores in India, according to three people familiar with the matter. 

Myntra, which took over the offline and online franchisee rights for the Spanish fashion and lifestyle brand in India earlier this year, is likely to appoint Samarth Lifestyle and G&B Fashion as the subfranchisees. 

Jaipur-based Samarth operates more than 100 outlets of Benetton, Tommy Hilfiger, US Polo, Puma, Lee, Wrangler and Calvin Klein, while New Delhi-based G&B operates 25 outlets of Benetton in the National Capital Region. 

Samarth Lifestyle and G&B declined to comment on the possible deals with Mango. Myntra has decided not to run the Mango stores itself, at least in the initial stages, due to high capital expenditure, operational costs and the need to maintain a separate team for offline stores, the people said. 

“We have not inherited any stores from the earlier franchisees as we did not find a feasible way to work with them,” a Myntra spokesperson said in an e-mailed response. 

“We will be setting up new Mango stores in prime locations in all metros and are working with our franchisees and malls to determine the location of these new stores.” 

Mango’s former franchisee Major Brands has already given notice to vacate a prominent mall in New Delhi. The mall operator hasn’t decided whether to lease the premises to Mango. 

One person said Myntra’s decision to let franchisees operate the Mango stores stems from the fact that its own entry into brick-and mortar retail a month ago with a Roadster-branded store has so far received a lukewarm response in Bengaluru, which the company said wasn’t correct. 

“This is absolutely baseless. While the Roadster store has been launched to create experiences for customers, it has been very well received and has performed beyond our expectations,” Myntra said in an emailed statement. 

“We have seen over 4,500 footfalls in the first month itself which is 2X of the footfalls of other leading brands on the street, with 60 per cent of the shoppers being new customer acquisitions.” On the other hand, Myntra, which was acquired by Flipkart in 2014, said sales of Mango products have surged 25 per cent on its platform since it signed on the Spanish fashion and lifestyle brand in February. 

“We are using a hybrid model of retail and sub-franchisees where all the investments in the store will be borne by us and the day-today operations of the store will be managed by the subfranchisees,” the company spokesperson said in the email. “In phase two of the launch, Myntra will operate and manage a few Mango stores end-to-end.”