Haldiram’s in Talks with Inspire Brands to Bring Jimmy John’s Sandwich Chain to India

The Haldiram Group is in advanced negotiations with US-based Inspire Brands to launch the popular sandwich chain Jimmy John’s in India, according to an Economic Times report citing people familiar with the discussions.

Talks are reportedly focused on an exclusive franchise partnership that would grant Haldiram’s the rights to operate Jimmy John’s outlets across India. The move marks Haldiram’s first major foray into western-style quick-service restaurants (QSRs) as it looks to expand beyond its core sweets and snacks business.

If finalised, the new venture will fall under Haldiram’s restaurant division, currently valued at about ₹2,000 crore with over 150 outlets nationwide. The unit operates independently from Haldiram Snacks Food Pvt Ltd, its packaged foods arm.

Founded in 1983, Jimmy John’s operates more than 2,600 restaurants in the US, Canada, South Korea, and the UAE, generating $2.6 billion in system-wide sales. Its parent company, Inspire Brands, also owns Dunkin’, Baskin-Robbins, Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Sonic, managing a global network of 33,000 restaurants with total sales of $32.6 billion in 2024.

Haldiram’s prospective partnership comes amid an ongoing corporate restructuring. Earlier this year, the company merged its Delhi and Nagpur FMCG units into one entity — Haldiram Snacks Food Pvt Ltd — in preparation for a potential public listing. The merged business reported FY24 revenue of ₹12,800 crore and net profit of ₹1,400 crore.

The group has also attracted strong investor interest: Singapore’s Temasek acquired a 10% stake at a valuation of around $10 billion, while Alpha Wave Global and Abu Dhabi’s International Holding Company (IHC) together hold another 6%.

According to the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), the country’s restaurant sector is projected to grow from ₹5.69 lakh crore in FY24 to ₹7.76 lakh crore by FY28, driven by rising incomes, younger consumers, and expanding food delivery platforms.

If the deal is sealed, Haldiram’s could position itself as a strong domestic challenger to Subway, Tim Hortons, and other international QSR players, tapping into India’s fast-growing café-style dining market.