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India has become a global hotspot for franchising, with top operators leading the charge in introducing and expanding international brands across sectors. From food and fashion to hospitality and fitness, these franchise giants are reshaping the consumer landscape and driving billion-dollar growth stories.
India’s franchise industry is experiencing unprecedented growth in 2025, with leading franchise operators playing a transformative role in bringing international brands to Indian consumers. Today, 90% of the world’s top 50 brands have a presence in India, and nearly half generate over $30 million in annual revenues. This explosive expansion is powered by strategic partnerships, aggressive retail rollouts, and a deep understanding of local markets. Key players like Jubilant FoodWorks, Devyani International, Reliance Brands, and others are acting as vital conduits for global names in food, fashion, fitness, and hospitality. These master franchisees are not just importing brands—they are localizing experiences, scaling operations, and shaping the next chapter of India’s consumption-driven economy.
Top Franchise Operators Fueling India’s Brand Boom
1. Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd.
Brands: Domino’s Pizza, Dunkin’ Donuts, Popeyes
Sector: Food & Beverage
A subsidiary of the Jubilant Bhartia Group, JFL operates over 2,990 outlets across six countries.
- Domino’s Pizza: On track to reach 3,000 stores in India by 2028, focusing on Tier III towns.
- Popeyes: Plans to expand to 250 outlets over the next three years in metro and Tier II cities.
- Tech Innovation: Developed in-house Android POS system 'Elate'.
- Strategic Growth: Acquired a 40% stake in Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages in 2024.
2. Devyani International Ltd. (DIL)
Brands: KFC, Pizza Hut, Costa Coffee, Tealive, New York Fries, Sanook Kitchen
Sector: Food & Beverage
India’s largest franchisee for Yum! Brands, with 900+ KFCs, 580+ Pizza Hut outlets, and 190+ Costa Coffee cafés across India, Nepal, and Nigeria.
- New Master Franchises (2024): Tealive (Malaysia), New York Fries (Canada), Sanook Kitchen (Singapore).
- Costa Coffee: Opened 67 new stores in 2024, a record year for expansion.
- Acquisition (2025): Majority stake in Sky Gate Hospitality (Biryani By Kilo, Goila Butter Chicken).
- Revenue Surge: 54% revenue increase YoY (Q4 2024), despite a 12% dip in pre-tax profit.
3. Reliance Brands Ltd. (RBL)
Brands: Over 85 including Marks & Spencer, Burberry, Diesel, Armani, Tiffany & Co., Pret A Manger, Hamleys, Sephora, 7-Eleven
Sector: Fashion, Lifestyle, Food, Beauty, Toys, Retail
With an aggressive expansion plan, RBL has become India’s most diversified brand operator.
- New JV: 50-50 partnership with Delta Galil (Israel) for innerwear retail in India.
- ASOS Launch: Bringing ASOS-owned brands to Indian consumers.
- Esports Expansion: Partnered with BLAST in 2025 to build India’s esports properties.
- Portfolio Optimization: Exited G-Star RAW and Replay due to low traction.
4. Sapphire Foods India Ltd.
Brands: KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell
Sector: Food & Beverage
Operating over 700 outlets in India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.
- New Stores: Added locations in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in 2024.
- Profit Surge: Q3 FY25 profit up 5% YoY to ₹12.73 crore.
5. Westlife Foodworld Ltd.
Brands: McDonald’s, McCafé
Sector: Food & Beverage
Master franchisee for McDonald’s in western and southern India, with 421 outlets as of Dec 2024.
- Expansion Goal: Add 300 outlets by 2027.
- Q3 2024 Dip: Profit dropped 59% due to expansion and marketing costs.
6. Rebel Foods
Brands: Wendy’s
Sector: Food & Beverage
Revolutionizing QSR with its cloud kitchen-first model, now operating 160 Wendy’s restaurants.
- Next 3 Years: ₹200 crore investment to scale to 500 touchpoints.
- Localization: Launched India-specific offerings like Spicy Aloo Crunch Burger.
7. Bake & Brew Pvt. Ltd. (Nalanda Group)
Brands: Le Pain Quotidien
Sector: Food & Beverage
- Le Pain Quotidien re-entered India via Bake & Brew with an ambitious 100-store target by 2035.
- Initial Rollout: ₹35 crore investment; first two Mumbai stores by March 2025.
- Focus Areas: Metros, airports, travel hubs.
8. CK Israni Group
Brands: The Coffee Club
Sector: Food & Beverage
- Master franchisee for Australia’s The Coffee Club, with a 100-café expansion plan over 5 years.
9. Metro Brands & Nykaa
Brands: Foot Locker
Sector: Footwear & Sportswear
Foot Locker enters India in 2024 through this strategic partnership.
- Roles: Metro handles offline retail; Nykaa takes charge of online presence.
10. Ekaagra Ostalaritza Pvt. Ltd.
Brands: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL)
Sector: Food & Beverage
Plans to grow CBTL from 30 to 250 stores by 2030.
- Target Locations: Airports, metros, premium retail zones.
- Focus: Localized food and premium coffee experiences.
11. Crunch Fitness
Brands: Crunch Fitness
Sector: Health & Fitness
- Signed a master franchise deal in early 2025 to open 75+ gyms in India.
12. Carrefour & Apparel Group
Brands: Carrefour
Sector: Retail & Hypermarkets
- Carrefour re-enters India in 2025, starting with North India via Dubai-based Apparel Group.
13. Dave & Buster’s
Brands: Dave & Buster’s
Sector: Entertainment & Dining
- Launched first India location in Bangalore, with Mumbai opening slated for mid-2025.
14. Treebo Hotels (with Accor & InterGlobe)
Brands: Ibis, Mercure
Sector: Hospitality
- Treebo to lead development of Ibis & Mercure across India under a master license agreement.
15. Suba Group of Hotels
Brands: Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, Clarion (Choice Hotels)
Sector: Hospitality
- 15-year master franchise agreement to strengthen Choice Hotels' presence in India.
These powerhouse franchise operators are not just scaling global brands—they’re shaping India's consumer landscape. Their local expertise, combined with strategic partnerships, is accelerating brand penetration across sectors like QSR, retail, fitness, hospitality, and lifestyle. As global players continue to enter the Indian market in 2025 and beyond, franchise-driven expansion will remain the engine powering this transformation.
