American sandwich chain Jimmy John's might soon enter India!
Haldiram Group, one of the country's top ethnic food services company, is planning to expand into western-style quick service restaurants (QSR). The restaurant chain is in talks with US-based Inspire Brands for an exclusive franchise deal to launch the sandwich chain Jimmy John’s in India, sources close to the discussions told ET.
Inspire Brands, which owns Jimmy John’s, also runs Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins globally. In India, Dunkin’ operates through Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd, while Baskin-Robbins is managed by Graviss Group under exclusive franchise agreements.
“The founder family of Haldiram’s, the Agarwals, want to compete with global brands such as Subway and Tim Hortons, as well as tap into the growing, aspirational younger consumer segments which take high affinity to western cafe-style formats,” said one source.
If finalised, the new QSR chain will be separate from Haldiram’s FMCG operations, currently conducted under Haldiram Snacks Food Pvt Ltd. Haldiram’s restaurant business, valued at nearly Rs 2,000 crore, runs over 150 outlets across India.
Jimmy John’s, founded in 1983, operates more than 2,600 outlets across the US, Canada, South Korea, and the UAE. In the US, it is the largest owned delivery sandwich brand, generating $2.6 billion in total system sales, according to the company’s website.
Inspire Brands, a multi-brand restaurant company founded in 2018, reported global system sales of $32.6 billion and a presence in 33,000 restaurants worldwide as of 2024. Its portfolio also includes Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Sonic, as per an ET report. The company has indicated it aims to expand into new markets through international franchise agreements.
“For 40 years, Jimmy John’s has taken a straightforward approach to making quality sandwiches and it’s now time to share them with the world,” said Michael Haley, president and managing director, international for Inspire Brands.
“We’re confident this brand is primed for extensive international growth,” Haley was quoted as saying by ET.
Haldiram’s founding family has also invested in the domestic QSR sector. In April, Kamal Agrawal, a member of the founding family, led a Rs 150 crore funding round in Wow! Momo via his family office.
A spokesperson for Haldirams said, “Haldirams has been built on the planks of customer centricity and a growth mindset. Since 1937, we’ve embodied the ‘young and hungry’ attitude, and with the support of our consumers and partners, we continue to make forays into nourishing India and the world. At this stage, we’re in explorations with Inspire Group about supporting their Sourcing & Fulfilment Value Chains with our extensive international culinary supply ecosystem, especially as they continue to expand their global footprint. We believe this is the foundation of a solid partnership, but at this stage, all other forays are purely conjectural.”
Haldiram Snacks Food reported a revenue of Rs 12,800 crore and a net profit of Rs 1,400 crore for FY24, filings show. In April 2025, the company merged its Delhi and Nagpur FMCG businesses to form a single entity, Haldiram Snacks Food Pvt Ltd, a move seen as a precursor to a potential public listing. The merger followed minority stake sales to global investors Temasek, Alpha Wave Global, and International Holding Company (IHC), with Temasek acquiring 10% at a valuation of about $10 billion and Alpha Wave and IHC taking a combined 6%.
According to the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), the country’s food services market is projected to grow from Rs 5.69 lakh crore in FY24 to Rs 7.76 lakh crore by FY28, supported by an expanding base of younger consumers, increased dining out, and the growth of food delivery platforms.
Ready to Make a Smarter Property Decision? Build Your Legacy with TOI Homes.
Follow Us On Social Media