Private investment has been one of the key drivers for growth of the Indian food industry. The `India Food Report 2008`, reveals that the total amount of investments in the food processing sector in the pipeline for the next three years is about US$ 23 billion.

• Texas Chicken, the chicken fast-food brand of the US-based Church`s Chicken, has already opened its first outlet in Hyderabad and plans to open at least 300 outlets in India over the next 10 years.

• The world`s third largest pizza chain, Papa John`s, plans to open 100 outlets in different parts of the country with an investment of US$ 51 million.

• Beverage and soft drink giant Coca Cola India plans to invest US$ 250 million in India over the next three years.

• Fast-food chain McDonald`s is pumping in US$83.4 million on increasing its footprint in India

• On the domestic front, RJ Corp-owned Devyani Food Industries has acquired 100per cent stake in ice-cream venture Cream Bell, valued at approximately US$ 92 million.

• A total of US$ 16.9 million has been invested in seven upcoming wineries in Maharashtra. The state now has 58 wineries with the total investment adding up to around US$ 68.5 million.

• ITC Limited plans an investment of around US$ 68 million to develop a new, integrated food processing plant in West Bengal.

• The SRS Group, one of India`s leading real estate developers, has announced its plan to invest US$ 31.3 million, aimed at expanding its chain of SRS 7Dayz Food Courts and SRS Dazzle Restrobars across northern India.

• Mumbai-based Jumbo King Foods has chalked up plans with a US$15.4 million investment over the next three-year period.

• Fruit drinks concentrate maker Rasna is looking to form joint ventures with companies in former Soviet countries (CIS) and African nations for increasing its global footprint.

A dominant trend of the recent times has been private equity (PE) firms warming up to investing in Indian restaurants.


• PE firm Jacob Ballas has picked up 21.5 per cent stake in Devyani International for US$ 61.5 million, valuing the firm at approximately US$ 287 million.

• Taking the trend further, another private equity firm, New Silk Route (NSR), is in advanced talks with the Dodsal group, one of the two franchisees of Yum! Brands-owned Pizza Hut and KFC, to pick up 30-40 per cent stake in the company.