Wadhawan Hospitality to bring Cinnabon brand to India

03 Jul 2009

Wadhawan Hospitality, the food and beverages arm of Wadhawan Enterprises, has entered into a tie-up with US-based Focus Brands to open Cinnabon bakeries in India.

The company has acquired the master franchisee rights to open both owned and sub-franchised Cinnabon Bakeries. “We will be opening about 150 ‘Cinnabon India’ bakeries pan-India with an estimated investment of Rs 150 crore spread overt the next few years,” Roger Narula, CEO, Wadhawan Hospitality, told Business Line.

The investments will be funded through internal accruals. Cinnabon will retail a range of baked goods, sandwiched and also beverages. The first bakery will be opened later this month in Delhi.

The company is mulling to open various formats of Cinnabon in airports, college cafes and high street locations.

“Cinnabon outlets can be set up in various formats including kiosks. The area can be anywhere from 100 square feet to 1,500 square feet,” he said, adding that it is also working towards customising the palate according to Indian taste-buds.

Mike Shattuck, senior vice-president – International Operations, Focus Brands, said the entry of Cinnabon will pave way for the entry of other Focus brands, including Carvel Ice Cream, Schlotzsky’s Deli, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and Seattle’s Best Coffee International, into the Indian market.

Speaking on Wadhawan Hospitality’s business ventures, Narula said the company’s ‘Central Kitchen’ — a manufacturing facility that can prepare 10,000 meals per shift, will be operational in Delhi and Bangalore later this year. Currently, Central Kitchen is present in Mumbai and is supplying meals on a daily basis to corporates and movie production units.

Source: The Hindu Business Line