Foodhall is shut, but Biyani sisters are not done with gourmet food yet
Mint. Increasingly, companies and brands are chasing affluent Indian consumers who are driving up sales of expensive cars, real estate and bags among others. In premium foods, too, more companies are stepping in, increasing the competitive landscape for the Biyani sisters. For instance, last year, Spencer’s Retail Ltd, an RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group subsidiary, announced its foray into upmarket grocery retail under the Nature’s Basket Artisan Pantry brand, citing demand for pricey truffle, caviar, and exotic mushrooms.
The chain planned to open several stores in Mumbai and Kolkata, Shashwat Goenka, chairman, Spencer’s Retail, had said in November. Nature’s Basket Pantry aside, several metros also house local premium gourmet chains that appeal to upmarket shoppers. These include chains such as Le Marche and Modern Bazaar.
Additionally, the Biyani sisters have set up Think9 Consumer Technologies, which promotes and develops digitally native brands. Think9 works with brands across consumption categories like fashion, food and wellness, beauty, and home and decor. Its portfolio comprises brands such as apparel brand Kingdom of White, Italian snacking brand Sorrentina, wellness brand The Good Bug, and personal care brand Beauty in Everything (BIE).
The sisters are also set to launch another retail concept under Broadway—to “empower digital-first" brands with stores in prime malls. These experiential stores will introduce shoppers to more than 100 new-age brands and 1,000 products and trends via events and experiences, according to a job description floated by the company and a copy of which has been seen by Mint. Meanwhile, Food Stories is being set up via a separate entity.
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