Travel Food Services, a subsidiary of Mumbai based K Hospitality, has big plans for the coming year, looking at raising investments of Rs.150 crores for its hospitality food service and travel retail businesses. The company manages brands such as Smoke House Bar & Cafe, KFC, Domino’s, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Cafe Coffee Day and Haagen-Dazs at the country’s airports. The company will increase its bandwidth in India’s bigger cities, besides expanding in travel retail in segments like rail.
TFS Executive Director, Kiran Kapur states, “Metros have a larger growth opportunity and much of the consumption growth is in these markets.” It is reported that an investment bank has been appointed to raise the funds. Investments will be funded through a mix of internal accruals, debt and equity by the promoters.
According to a spokesperson, “Over a short period of time, Travel Food Services has created a leading position as India’s largest F&B Concessionaire in the travel retail segment. We have been growing at a rapid pace establishing our presence at major airports in the country as well as internationally and also diversifying into other travel hubs across India.”
Some of the proprietary brands managed and partnered by TFS include Smoke House Bar & Cafe, KFC, Domino’s, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Cafe Coffee Day and Haagen-Dazs at the country’s airports. The company launched its lounge management business with operations at Terminal 2 of the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai. It also has partnerships with Gate Gourmet for in-flight catering and with Lagardere Travel Retail for duty-free shops and news and books through the Relay brand.
TFS will invest in bettering its delivery and digital services and plans to intensify both, the front and back end systems through technology. Mr. Kapur states, “…. So technology is an important part of the business going forward.” The company’s direction aligns well with the recent Central Government’s decision to modernize 400 railway stations in India.