Latest news with #RebelFoods
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Real Time Actionable Insights For Personalisation In the Age of AI: ETBWS 2025
Today, marketing is about enabling customers to find the products that best match their profiles. Customer data is allowing marketers to deliver personalised campaigns at scale. However, the volume of data generated in recent years has grown at an exponential rate. Meanwhile, marketing organisations have remained the same size or, in some cases, have even shrunk due to economic pressures. Marketers are quickly realising that, for personalisation to become the cornerstone of their customer strategies, they must implement AI-driven automation. At the seventh edition of the ET Brand World Summit 2025 , a panel of marketing leaders gathered to reflect on a defining imperative of modern brand building: personalisation in an AI-driven world. The session, titled 'Personalisation in the Age of AI: Real-Time Actionable Insights 2.0', featured insights from Shiv Kumar, chief data and analytics officer, L'Oréal India; Nishant Kedia, CMO, Rebel Foods; Maneesh Mittal, senior vice president, Reliance Brands; Kavita Jagtiani, CMO, L&T Finance; and Gagandeep Gadri, EVP and global managing director, frog, part of Capgemini Invent. The discussion was chaired by Devesh Gupta, content lead for product and community, ETBrandEquity. The focus in marketing has shifted from creativity as a siloed domain to creativity as a democratised capability, unlocked by AI but driven by the quality of human input. 'The system is available to everyone, but the real art lies in how you use it,' stated Kumar. 'Prompting is not just science, it's creativity. With AI in our hands, ideation becomes faster, but it's the human touch that keeps communication meaningful, trustworthy, and truly personalised.' Personalisation is not merely a function of data, it is about making people feel genuinely delighted. At Rebel Foods, this principle came alive through a Diwali campaign featuring Saif Ali Khan delivering AI-powered, name-personalised greetings. 'Today, content must create its own distribution, and the only way to do that is by making someone feel personally delighted,' shared Kedia. 'When AI helps you send a greeting from Saif Ali Khan that says your name, that's not just personalisation, that's emotional branding at scale.' Personalisation is not a new phenomenon. It is rooted in the timeless power of human interaction, something AI should complement rather than attempt to replace. 'Personalisation didn't begin with AI, it began decades ago with your neighbourhood shopkeeper who knew your name,' said Mittal. 'The goal today is the same: replicate human warmth in digital experiences. Technology can assist, but the heart of marketing is still human connection.' Delivering real-time personalisation at scale requires a complete rethink not just of tools, but of teams, skills, and structures. 'The future of marketing isn't linear; it's circular, adaptive, and deeply human,' stated Gadri. 'To scale personalisation, brands must blend AI with creativity, behavioural science, and neurodiverse thinking. The question isn't just what AI can do, but how it reshapes our teams and their skills.' At the intersection of technology and social impact, AI is being used not only to personalise experiences but also to expand financial inclusion, particularly for underserved communities in rural India. 'With AI, we're personalising not just communication but inclusion,' said Jagtiani. 'From using satellite images to assess rural housing to analysing digital footprints to extend credit, we're making finance contextual, fair, and accessible, because personalisation must empower, not exclude.' While AI provides the infrastructure, personalisation remains a deeply human craft. From advanced analytics to heartfelt storytelling, from rural loans to luxury retail, today's brands must balance intelligence with empathy, and scale with soul. In an era where algorithms are everywhere, what truly sets a brand apart is how human it chooses to remain.
Economic Times
07-07-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Rebel Foods explores stake sale in premium chocolate brand Smoor
ETtech (L-R) Kallol Banerjee, Jaydeep Barman, founders, Rebel Foods Cloud kitchen operator Rebel Foods, which owns brands such as Faasos and Behrouz Biryani, has held discussions to sell its stake in premium chocolate and dessert maker Smoor, said people briefed on the a related move aimed at restructuring operations, Rebel Foods has closed its offices in Gurugram and Bengaluru. One of the persons said Rebel Foods, which owns around 57% of Smoor, has been looking for a buyer but those talks have yet to fructify. The people cited above said Smoor's business has lagged expectations, particularly in key markets like Mumbai and with Rebel Foods preparing for a potential public listing, there is growing pressure to offload underperforming to ET's queries, a Rebel Foods spokesperson said the company continues to back Smoor and has been investing in its long-term growth. 'Over the past six months, we have made significant long-term investments in Smoor, including the commissioning of a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility,' the spokesperson closing its offices, the spokesperson said, 'Our decision to consolidate teams in Mumbai is a strategic step towards deeper collaboration and faster decision-making as we enter the next phase of growth'.Rebel Foods had acquired a majority stake in Smoor in April 2022, valuing the brand at over $50 million. The acquisition was part of a broader strategy to evolve into a full-fledged brand aggregator in the food and beverages (F&B) space and invest up to $150 million to acquire and invest in brands , but the company did not comment on how much of that amount has been deployed. At the time, Rebel said Smoor aims to grow threefold in FY23, and touch $100 million in annual revenue by 2026. In FY24, Smoor reported a 16% increase in revenue at Rs 149 crore, showed financials sourced from Tracxn. The brand however continued to face increased losses. It reported a net loss of Rs 19 crore in FY24, widening from Rs 17 crore in fiscal 2023 and Rs 10 crore in FY22. Overall, Rebel Foods, which closed a $210 million funding round led by Singapore's sovereign fund Temasek at a flat valuation in December, improved its financial health in FY24 though it continued to incur losses. According to Registrar of Companies (RoC) filings, the Mumbai-based company's net loss contracted 42% to Rs 378 crore in FY24 while revenue increased 19% to Rs 1,420 latest moves indicate Rebel's attempt to streamline operations and sharpen its focus ahead of a possible market debut, even as questions linger about the performance of some of its premium bets, one of the persons Foods' rival Binny Bansal-backed Curefoods last month filed draft papers for its proposed Rs 800 crore initial public offering (IPO). Curefoods, the operator of brands such as EatFit, Sharief Bhai Biryani, Nomad Pizza and Krispy Kreme, is the second largest internet-first cloud kitchen company after Rebel a LinkedIn post on Sunday, Rebel Foods founder and CEO Jaydeep Barman wrote that the company is planning to acquire, invest in or partner with restaurant brands that have achieved a 'minimum scale'. Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Did Jane Street manipulate Indian market or exploit its shallowness? Just before the Air India crash, did India avert another deadly mishap? How Balrampur Chini, EID Parry are stirring up gains amid melting sugar stocks Second only to L&T, but controversies may weaken this infra powerhouse's growth story Stock Radar: Poly Medicure stock looks attractive for short-term gains; still down 30% from highs Stock picks of the week: 5 stocks with consistent score improvement and return potential of more than 29% in 1 year Capital market stocks: Some corrections are opportunities, 5 stocks with potential downside to upside from -20% to +24% Skepticism & multibaggers: 15 stocks where element of skepticism is high, need is basic & now policy direction is right
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
EatSure launches Rajkot's first vegetarian-only smart foodcourt
EatSure, the flagship food delivery platform by Rebel Foods , announced the launch of its first EatSure vegetarian-only smart foodcourt in Rajkot. Situated at Crystal Mall, Kalawad Road, this will be the eighth physical smart foodcourt by EatSure in India. Spanning 2200 square feet, it is set to redefine dining in the city by offering a queueless, fully digital ordering experience . The Rajkot EatSure Smart Foodcourt introduces a unique dining experience where customers can place orders using self-service kiosks or through the EatSure app . Notifications are sent via digital screens or WhatsApp once the order is ready, ensuring a hassle-free process with no waiting in long queues. Apart from the unique digital ordering experience, the EatSure foodcourt is home to celebrate brands across popular food missions, said a company release. Speaking about the launch, Sagar Kochhar, co-founder and CEO, EatSure, Rebel Foods, said, 'With the launch of EatSure's first-ever vegetarian-only smart foodcourt in Rajkot, we're thrilled to bring a one-of-a-kind, tech-powered dining experience to a city that truly celebrates vegetarian cuisine. This marks a major milestone in our offline growth journey as we merge culinary innovation with a fully digital ecosystem. Category-leading, much-loved brands like Behrouz Biryani, Faasos, Wendy's, Oven Story, Sweet Truth, and more, are coming to Rajkot — all under one roof. With this launch, we aim to redefine everyday dining by delivering unmatched convenience, variety, and trust through a seamless, smart experience.' With this launch, food lovers in the city can now enjoy food from Wendy's, Behrouz Biryani, Faasos, Oven Story Pizza, Lunchbox, Sweet Truth, The Good Bowl, Firangi Bake, The Biryani Life, and ES Café — all in one seamless order. From biryanis, burgers, and pizzas to wraps and desserts, the EatSure platform simplifies the entire dining experience with unmatched variety and convenience, the release stated. Rebel Foods, which leads the direct-to-consumer revolution in online dining, is bringing this to life through EatSure's virtual food court model. The Rajkot launch replicates the ease of a physical food court, enabling consumers to order from top brands in a single order. EatSure has also partnered with IRCTC to transform train travel dining. With the 'Order Food on Train' feature on its app, passengers can now easily order from a range of restaurants and have it delivered right to their seats as they travel across the Indian Railway network, it added. With its growing omni-channel presence, the EatSure app has already captivated over 20 million users in 75+ cities across India.
India Today
08-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
How cloud kitchens are powering India's new F&B renaissance. All you need to know
There was a time when opening a restaurant in India required the sort of courage one usually reserves for starting an airline or making a Bollywood period drama. It meant leases, licenses, lavish interiors, and an unwavering belief that people would walk in, order generously, and return often enough to keep the lights the F&B playbook has been rewritten, and the pen was handed over to a new generation of food entrepreneurs who've traded chandeliers for cloud can thank the pandemic for some of it. Or the fact that India's young urbanites are now more likely to order an artisanal bao than walk out for one. Or simply that the dream of launching a food brand no longer needs a storefront on Linking Road or Khan Market—it just needs a strong idea, a shared kitchen, and a few loyal delivery Today spoke with Sanket S Co - Founder of Scandalous Foods to get more to India's cloud kitchen boom. Where innovation is on the stove, and real estate no longer dictates kitchens—also called ghost kitchens or dark kitchens, are not new globally. But in India, they've found a particular kind of sweet spot. Think of them as the WeWork of the food world. No dining area. advertisementNo footfall. Just a back-end kitchen, digital orders, and a menu that lives and breathes it's not just the format that's exciting, it's the philosophy. These are not merely kitchens. They are launchpads. They allow young food brands to do what restaurants traditionally could not, experiment, fail, pivot, and try again. All without mortgaging your home or betting on a landlord's Korean rice bowls to saffron-infused laddoos that last 45 days without a single preservative, the cloud model has become the test kitchen of India's culinary future. A quiet revolution is simmering, one container at a time.A MODEL FOR EVERY APPETITENot all cloud kitchens are created equal. Some go solo, independent spaces owned and operated by one brand. Others opt for co-working kitchens, where multiple ventures share facilities, infrastructure, and sometimes, inspiration. Then there are marketplace models, managed by giants like Rebel Foods, where third-party brands with proven traction are onboarded at most startups, the first step is humble, rent a space, set up operations, and let the food speak for itself. The beauty of this model lies in its accessibility. You don't need foot traffic when you have order data. advertisementYou don't need dcor when you've nailed your biryani-to-delivery-box experience. And most importantly, you can test product-market fit with agility and like every good story, there's a PRICE OF STAYING INVISIBLE The success of a brand born in the cloud is real, but so is the challenge of staying visible. On aggregator platforms, where most cloud kitchens thrive, the customer often remembers the delivery app, not the brand that made the food. Customer loyalty becomes hard-earned currency in a space ruled by convenience and to that the high commissions and platform-led price cuts, and suddenly, scaling sustainably starts to look like a different kind of uphill why many of the new-age brands are choosing a hybrid route. A cloud kitchen for quick market entry, QSRs for recall and visibility, and eventually a dine-in format to deepen the brand experience. Some brands are working behind the scenes, especially, when it comes to the increasing average-order-value (AOVs). These homegrown brands are targeting the irreplaceable Indian habit of post-meal desserts. They source it from the best, and perfect the science of shelf life, and supply sweets to restaurants you thought made them in-house; and just like that the whole cloud kitchen industry stands to accumulate more profits per WE'RE HEADEDZomato and Swiggy recorded a combined sales figure of $4 billion last year. Online food ordering is expected to reach around $4.5 billion in FY24, with projections indicating growth to approximately $13 billion by 2029 and $26 billion by 2032. It's about the hunger, literal and metaphorical, for innovation. From millet pizzas to plant-based kebabs, the Indian palate is more adventurous than ever before. And in this evolving appetite, cloud kitchens have found their calling. They are no longer the poor cousin of the dine, in dream. They are the idea labs. The rehearsal stage. The proof-of-concept before the main eventually, every food brand worth its salt, and ghee, must step out of the shadows. The true mark of success isn't just a bestseller menu online, but a loyal customer offline. A face to the name. A place where the aroma doesn't stop at the now, though, the cloud is a good place to begin.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rebel Foods secures $25m from Qatar Investment Authority to support growth
Indian online restaurant company Rebel Foods has received a $25m investment from Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) to support growth, propelling the company's valuation to $1.4bn, reported Mint. This funding is set to bolster the expansion of Rebel Foods' physical restaurants, as well as food courts, indicating a shift for the Temasek-supported company. Few people under anonymity revealed information regarding the restaurant plan. One of the parties said: 'The company wants to expand restaurant and café business, essentially to expand in an omnichannel way.' The parent company of brands such as Faasos and Behrouz Biryani, Rebel Foods has not issued a statement on the matter. A large portion of the investment is earmarked for the growth of Rebel Foods' food court venture, Eatsure. Another source said: 'The company wants to start some key restaurants and food courts where their branded food items can be sold and dined in. They now want to have an omnichannel approach. This is likely to challenge any incoming competition from newer players and quick commerce majors.' The company's strategy includes a diverse offering within its food courts, ranging from biryani to pizza, and cakes to coffee. With the fresh capital, Rebel Foods is poised to inaugurate additional outlets in key Indian cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru and Delhi. The company also recently partnered with Wendy's in India. The introduction of new outlets comes alongside reports from December, when Mint cited an anonymous source claiming that KKR was in the process of acquiring $50m-$75m worth of Rebel Foods shares from existing investors, at a valuation of $800m-$860m. Furthermore, Rebel Foods is reportedly considering an initial public offering within the next one to one and a half years. In February 2025, Rebel Foods opened its third Oven Story Pizza store in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. "Rebel Foods secures $25m from Qatar Investment Authority to support growth" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
