GoKhana, a SaaS Platform for End-to-End Management of Corporate Cafeterias, Has Raised 1.1 Million USD in a Pre-Series A Round

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India: Founded by Ankur Marda, Ashish Marballi and Hitesh Sarda in 2017, GoKhana digitizes operations of institutional food-courts by introducing efficiencies and making the entire food-ordering process convenient, efficient and contactless.

 
GoKhana is present in 11 cities with contracts translating to 1M+ active users, with a strong pipeline to ramp it up to 5M+ active users. The solution brings together corporate partners, their employees and corporate food suppliers on a single technology platform.
 
The current round was led by GRM Foodkraft Private Ltd (GFK), a subsidiary of GRM Overseas Limited. “The company’s strategic investment in GoKhana is an important milestone in our efforts towards strengthening our 10X Brand presence in the domestic market as well as maximising the retail outreach,” said Mr. Atul Garg, Managing Director, GFK.
 
The round saw participation from existing investors and also included some notable HNIs like Mekin Maheshwari (Udhyam Learning Foundation, Ex. Flipkart), Satyen Vallabh Patel (Sahyadri Industries), Pankaj Prasoon (Multi-Dimensional Entrepreneur) , Israr Ali Khan (Global Investor), Sachin Agarwal (PTC Industries), Chetan Agrawal (G. R. Group of Industries) and C. S. Nitin (Cothas Coffee).
 
“GoKhana will use the pre-Series A funds to pursue growth opportunities across India, and to enter new verticals in the burgeoning institutional catering space,” said Ankur Marda, Co-founder and CEO of GoKhana. He added, “With employees returning to office campuses in a phased manner, contactless operations in corporate cafeterias has become inevitable. And GoKhana is well positioned with a host of contactless solutions for our corporate partners.”
 
The investment comes on the heels of large corporate contracts captured by GoKhana in recent months, cementing its position as one of the leading SaaS providers for cafeteria digitization in India.
 
With marquee clients and operations in eleven cities across India, GoKhana is today the fastest growing cafeteria technology platform in India. In keeping with the company’s “technology-first” philosophy, GoKhana has introduced multiple industry-first features to help the cafeteria ecosystem become more efficient, and safe in the post-pandemic world.
 
The funds will help GoKhana on deep integration with its strategic partners. GoKhana has multiple partnerships to help its users optimize their supply chain, provide contactless experience on vending machines, help customers achieve sustainability goals & reduce food wastage & help corporates neutralize virus (including but not limited to Covid) at workplace. GoKhana will further use the funding to fuel its continuous innovation culture, bringing other novel services to its corporate customers – at work, at home, and in restaurants.

'Roastea' - A Gujarat Based Complete Beverage Company Eyes Unprecedented Growth across India

Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India: Indian startups have been in focus for quite a while. Young entrepreneurs with a thirst for innovations are reaching the zenith of success by adding value to the overall startup ecosystem. One such startup which is brimming with success is Roastea. What started as an idea at a law firm back in 2019, has transformed into a “Complete beverage company” today. The lawyers - turned-entrepreneurs duo Chaitanya and Anurag established Roastea with a vision to render good quality products whilst catering to all kinds of palates. 

Roastea started its first vertical - “The corporate coffee and tea vending machine” vertical in 2019 catering to corporates, offices, hospitals and the like. From dishing out 500 cups a day in 2019 to a staggering 30,000 cups every day, Roastea has been expanding its footprints across Indian corporates, hospitals, government entities and industrial sectors, amongst others. The rapidly-growing footprint of Roastea began with coffee and tea vending machines and has grown to over 300 vending machines on ground and under installation in 2021. 

Roastea is the result of the brother duo’s innovative minds and unprecedented thought to serve beverage-lovers with 25 plus varieties from a single vending machine. From serving 30,000 customers a day to doubling up the target in the coming days, Roastea is carving out a niche in the Indian beverage market, with enriching taste, a never-seen-before product portfolio, quality commitment, customer satisfaction and hassle-free services. The current revenue rate is a whopping Rs. 6 crores. 

Roastea has a wide portfolio ranging from filter coffees, western-style coffees (Cappuccino, Latte, Americano), Indian Masala Chais (Elaichi, Ginger, Masala, Tulsi and Lemongrass) to Artisanal Green Teas (Detox Kahwa, Kashmiri Kesar Kahwa, Lemon Ginger and Honey Lemon). The product basket also includes haldi-milk and kaadha as immunity boosters. Roastea leverages IoT Technology in its vending machines to analyze consumer behavior, track customer preferences and record consumption matrix. Touch-less dispensing (through a QR code facility) and Inventory Management empower Roastea vending machines to be smart, safe and quick in the Post-Covid era. 

Talking about how Roastea stands out, Founder of Roastea, Mr. Anurag Bhamidipaty, said, “Our Fresh-milk based vending machines are the perfect “Pantry Replacement” that an office has been looking for. We use our own coffee and tea blend with specially curated green tea to satisfy the customers’ palates. Our dedicated in-house tech team and house customer service team are always available for instant support. We are competitive and are far better priced as compared to our competitors.” 

Founder of Roastea, Mr. Chaitanya Bhamidipaty added, “With a keen focus on homemade chais, people just love to relish our masala chais. We have received multiple inquiries for our vending machines to be placed in their households. Believe it or not, we’re going to revolutionize the much-loved Indian beverages with our vending machines while saving their time and energy.” 

“Presently, Roastea holds pan-India contracts with several corporate companies. Within one year of starting our business and just 17-18 operational months during a pandemic hit market, we’ve scaled new heights. So far, we are present in Delhi-NCR, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat. With a focus to expand pan-India, we’re improving, excelling and going extra miles to establish ourselves as a beverage connoisseur brand across the country,” said Founder of Roastea, Mr. Anurag Bhamidipaty. 

Roastea has also managed to strengthen its presence in the B2C vertical through airport kiosks across India. Expanding their B2C vertical, Roastea is all set to launch their Cafe in an upscale part of Ahmedabad, Gujarat. With a specially curated menu focused on diverse categories of food and beverages, Roastea Cafe is set to become a buzzing venue for foodies in the city. 

Roastea’s soon-to-launch direct-to-customer (D2C) online vertical makes Premium Coffee and Artisinal Tea available for customers through their website, Amazon, Flipkart and other e-commerce websites. Roastea is a one-stop-shop for all coffee and chai lovers. 

One of the major differentiators is that Roastea is the only Complete Beverage Brand that caters to both chai and coffee lovers under one shop. With many milestones in the near future, Roastea is building a business that is driven by creating value and is all set to revolutionize the beverage industry.

The Biryani House Aims to Open 50 District Master Franchises Across India by the End of 2022

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India: The Biryani House, India’s fastest upcoming delivery platform which serves India’s largest variety of delicious Dum Biryanis apart from melting in mouth Kebabs & Curries plans to open 50 district master franchises across India by the end of year 2022. 

The Biryani House has a plan to capitalise the Biryani market by expanding its footprints in the districts of the following states under Mission 50 i.e., Maharashtra, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, West Bengal and many more. 

Sarvesh Chaubey, Founder & Chairman - TBH said, "Our only focus is to have India's biggest franchise network of like-minded franchise owners where we work together to common vision and that is why we don't charge any royalty because we want our franchise partners to be profitable in less than a year." 

Anuj Kumar, Co-founder - TBH, said, "Nowadays, there has been a tremendous demand for food. I can see a huge potential in the districts of the mentioned states and after the lockdown people are keen investing in food franchise business, Biryani Market specifically. I think this is a great opportunity which I take as my Mission 50 by opening 50 outlets of our brand through further district master franchise by the end of 2022.” 

It allows their customers to choose their delicious taste from their wide offerings & varieties relish a different taste on every order. In 2015, they started their first outlet in Mumbai and started catering locals with the most delicious biryani at a very reasonable price. 

Danone India Launches Protinex Diabetes Care to Address the Nutritional Needs of Indians with Diabetes

 

Less than one out of four people with diabetes meet their daily protein and fibre requirements, finds a Danone study

New Delhi, India: Danone India, with its mission ‘to bring health through food to as many people as possible,’ today announced the launch of Protinex Diabetes Care with an aim to address the nutritional requirements of Indians with diabetes. The scientifically developed product aims to provide adequate protein and fiber, which are important nutrients in managing blood sugar levels.

 
To understand the needs of people with diabetes, Danone India commissioned a research among 1000 respondents across India which was conducted by IPSOS, a leading marketing research firm. The survey aimed at assessing the nutrition awareness and nutrient intake among people with type 2 diabetes and identifying the relationship between nutritional knowledge and dietary self-care behavior in Indian diabetic patients. The survey findings revealed that over 92% of respondents knew that protein and fiber in the diets are essential to manage diabetes. However, daily nutrient intake assessment using Nutri Calculator, a tool developed by Danone with nutrition experts, highlighted that only 14.8% and 21.2% people with diabetes were consuming the daily required protein and fiber respectively. Nearly 60% of respondents were unaware about food sources that have high or low Glycemic Index, to make a right choice as awareness about this is beneficial for diabetes management.
 
Elucidating about the benefits of protein and fiber in people with diabetes, Dr Amit Khandeparkar, Head, Medical Affairs at Danone India said, “74 million Indians are living with Diabetes and currently, India has the second highest diabetes cases in the world, and this number is projected to reach around 124 million by 2045 as per International Diabetes Federation Atlas. Factors such as higher fat to muscle ratio, inappropriate diet and lifestyle accelerate the diabetes onset. Consuming a diet high in protein, fiber & low Glycemic Index can help manage blood sugar fluctuations and weight thus helping the individual live with diabetes in a better way.”
 
Protinex Diabetes Care is packed with the highest amount of protein in this category and it also has high fiber. Both these nutrients are helpful in the management of blood sugar levels and thus help diabetic patients lead a healthier life. It is fortified with 26 essential vitamins & minerals and is available in Vanilla flavor. Protinex Diabetes Care is a healthy food option for people with diabetes as it is low in fat, contains no added sugar and thus provides lower calories. It contains no artificial sweeteners which is an added advantage for people with diabetes. Moreover, it is the only product in the powder nutrition category with low Glycemic Index (GI) of 17, that can help manage blood sugar levels.
 
Speaking about the launch of the new product, Mr. Sriram Padmanabhan, Director Marketing, Danone India said, “At Danone, we endeavor to offer products that are relevant to local consumer needs. Diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate in India but equally shocking is the lack of awareness and inadequate intake of protein, fiber, and other essential nutrients in the diets of people with diabetes. Protinex Diabetes Care demonstrates Danone’s commitment to inspire healthier eating and drinking habits among adults.”
 
With this launch, the company has entered Rs. 165 Crore health food drink market for diabetics. The product is retailed across India. It is going to be available in 200g and 400g packs across modern trade, general trade, and e-commerce channels.

GRM Overseas Set up Food Tech Fund in Its Subsidiary GRM Foodkraft

Announces Strategic Investments in Tobox Ventures (GoKhana), a Food Tech Firm

Panipat, Haryana, India: GRM Overseas Limited (herein referred to as “GRM”), one of India’s leading basmati rice exporters and a niche consumer staples player, today announced the set up of its Food Tech Fund under the aegis of its subsidiary GRM Foodkraft Private Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “GFK” or the “Company”). The purpose of this fund is to invest in Food Tech companies which strategically fits into GFK’s Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) product offerings.

Additionally, the Company has made its maiden investment from this fund and has picked up a 5% stake (pre-money) in Tobox Ventures Private Limited (hereinafter referred as “GoKhana”) on 30th November 2021. This strategic investment will help GFK to leverage GoKhana’s network to introduce its high-quality product basket directly to GoKhana’s corporate catering partners and their customers. Furthermore, this partnership will extend new Direct-To-Consumer product offerings from GFK to GoKhana’s customers under D2C model.

Commenting on the development, Mr Atul Garg, Managing Director said: “GRM will continue to focus on diversifying from private label Basmati rice offerings to build its own high margin brands. The company is strategically expanding in domestic market by pushing its presence both in general trade and modern trade through its own 10X brand, leveraging the strong distributor base enjoyed by the core business.

The company’s strategic investment in GoKhana is an important milestone in its efforts towards strengthening the 10X Brand presence in the domestic market as well as maximising the retail outreach. With more than four decades of experience in the rice exports business, taking the momentum forward, GRM is well-positioned to enter into a new era of growth and to create maximum value for all our stakeholders.”

About GRM Overseas

From a humble inception in 1974 to redefining itself in the form of GRM, the Company has travelled a long way since then. Initially setup as a rice manufacturing and trading house, it is growing to become a consumer staples organisation. During the initial years, GRM exported rice to the Middle East, United Kingdom and the United States. Gradually expanding its reach, GRM has developed a market for its rice in more than 38 countries, thereby achieving the title of the 3rd leading Rice Exporter in India. GRM has three rice processing units with the overall annual production capacity of 4,40,800 MT based out of Panipat (Haryana) with 300 MTPD, Naultha (Haryana) with 500 MTPD and Gandhidham (Gujarat) with 2,000 MTPD. Additionally, the company has warehousing facility of 1.75 Lakhs sq ft space adjacent to Gandhidham plant facilitating speedy shipments from Kandla and Mundra ports.

GRM sells products under its own brands namely “10X”, “Himalaya River” & “Tanoush” and also selling through private label arrangements under customers’ brands. In recent years, GRM has endeavoured to reach the consumers directly with its brands and products. By placing its products on the shelves of several major retailers in India and abroad, GRM has ensured that the end consumer always has easy access to their high-quality products. The Company aims to deliver the best quality products to customers with stringent and proactive quality control procedures in place which is in accordance with international requirements.

www.grmrice.com, www.gokhana.com

About Tobox Ventures Private Limited (GoKhana)

Tobox Ventures Private Limited (GoKhana) was incorporated in 2017, with a vision to make the operations in institutional food-courts more efficient by digitizing the food experience. GoKhana brings together Corporate Admin’s, their Employees and Corporate Caterers on a single technology platform.

With marquee clients and operations in ten cities across India, GoKhana is today the fastest growing cafeteria technology platform in India. In keeping with the company’s “Technology First” philosophy, GoKhana has introduced multiple industry-first features to help the ecosystem become more efficient. GoKhana is continuously innovating to bring other novel services to its corporate customers – at work, at home, and in restaurants.