• BrightStar has been granted exclusive Master Franchise rights of Carl’s Jr. for North India

• Backed by a strong promoter back-up, the promoters collectively committed USD 4 mn to the business

Indian F&B industry is highly fragmented with 1.5 million eating outlets across the country, out of which close to 2,00,000 outlets form the organized segment are rapidly growing at an annual rate of 16%. The major revenue around 22% is earned from key metro Mumbai and Delhi making them the biggest F&B hubs in the country. This further indicates the prospect for exponential growth in organized QSR market with a whopping 4.5 bn industry.

Riding on this growth wave of Indian F&B industry, BrightStar, franchise partner of Californian burger chain, Carl’s Jr. plans to triple its footprint and seek investment in India. The hospitality giant has been granted exclusive Master Franchise rights of Californian Burger chain in North India. The company has been winning the Indian market with its customized consulting strategies focusing primarily on customer experience & product for matured and underpenetrated markets. In line with the vision, the brand is currently in expansion mode primarily in Punjab-Chandigarh region owing to its consumer demography and diverse range of products. By March 2020, BrightStar is aiming to open 4 more outlets and will touch 20 store mark by the end of this year. The current expansion strategy is targeted to achieve higher ROI by utilization of economics of scale.

Backed by a strong promoter back-up, the promoters collectively committed USD 4 mn to the business. Spearheaded by seasoned food industry professionals, BrightStar has successfully scaled and launched leading international brands in India.  

One of the biggest feather added to BrightStar cap is Californian Burger Chain Carl’s Jr. India, currently operating 4 outlets at premium locations of Delhi-NCR with estimated revenue of INR 10.5 Cr for the FY 2019-20 and with a positive EBITDA margins at the store level. Starting from a humble hot dog cart in 1941, the food chain has become a global giant serving the best quality burgers across the world. Founded in California, Carl's Jr., has been a pioneer of the quick service restaurants (QSR) industry for the past 75+ years.

Fast forward to today, with over 3800 restaurants in 43 countries, Carl’s Jr. and sister brand Hardee’s focus on fresh food made with only premium quality ingredients to provide big-juicy burgers, hand-scooped ice-cream milkshakes and hand-breaded chicken. Both the entities have consistently ranked among the top 5 burger brands by Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 for many years.

Carl’s Jr. features a superior dining experience that includes innovative menu items made-to-order and served hot and fresh at your table, all in a modern, upscale and spacious environment, while also having options of take away, drive-thru and home delivery for its guests.

Carl’s Jr. India is also known for its high-quality products made from a variety of fresh and healthy ingredients. It provides great taste at great value to its guests and leads the industry in class and innovation. Carl’s Jr., in India, has invested over USD 1.5 million for substantial consumer research, product development & tasting trials, which has helped us to develop a full line of fresh and flavourful premium vegetarian & non vegetarian options. Carl’s Jr. India offers guests a wide range of products designed to meet the Indian palate, in addition to several signature Carl’s Jr. Menu items available globally. In India, it offers the brand’s signature chargrilled burgers, hand-breaded boned & deboned chicken, side orders accompanied with beverages.

The brand has been led by leading hospitality and industry professionals Yogesh Malik, Shipra Sharma and Samir Chopra. These serial entrepreneurs are taking BrightStart to newer heights with track record in consulting & incubation for various national and international brands.

Yogesh Malik, who is also the Chairman and Managing Director of Palimpsest Publishers and Ray Infratrade, is one of the first movers in the Indian F&B Industry as promoter of Malik Sweets as an exclusive venture. A passionate entrepreneur with a zeal to make big ventures supported by his educational background in English Hons. and Hotel Management, Yogesh has transformed the Indian consulting Industry. He has been engaged in food export business and providing real estate consulting for hospitality sector. With his belief in Indian as the throes of burger innovation, after having gone through something similar with Pizza and pasta a decade ago. His vision is to outreach the millennial with premium burgers and also triple the business in North India within a year.

Shipra Sharma, a MBA focussed in Business Administration, Management and Operations from Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Sloan School of Management. She is also an alumnus of Harvard University and Boston University, wherein she got her graduate and undergraduate degrees. Her professional portfolio presents her as the Director of Empire Housing Project with a demonstrated history of working in the biotechnology industry.

Samir Chopra, Chartered Accountant by profession and graduate from Shri Ram College of Commerce and has 30+ years of diverse experience. He is recipient of the Most Promising Entrepreneur of the Year – 2009 & entrepreneur of the Year - 2012 by Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Association.

Subrata Gorai, Chief Business Officer, who heads the business is a Hotel Management graduate with specialization on F&B Management from American Hotels & Lodging Education Institute, USA. A hospitality professional with over 23 years of experience in India, USA and UAE, Subarta is driving success at corporate level to optimize underperforming business to market favorite business, achieving fiscal goals and fame, creating new concepts and start-ups. His past associations include international brands like Taj Group of Hotels, Royal Caribbean International, Pizza Hut, Chicking, Jones, The Grocer, Keita etc.