Kouzina Food Tech secures exclusive license with Swiggy for digital-first food brands

Kouzina Food Tech has formed a strategic partnership with Swiggy, acquiring an exclusive license for its digital-first food brands, including The Bowl Company, Homely, Soul Rasa, and Istah. According to a filing by Swiggy, Kouzina will manage the operations, development, and growth of these brands. Once specific conditions are met, Swiggy will transfer full ownership to Kouzina.

Operational Changes at Swiggy

In recent years, Swiggy has restructured its cloud kitchen operations and scaled them back significantly. In 2023, the Bengaluru-based company transferred its Access Kitchens division to Kitchens@ via a share swap arrangement.

Expansion Plans with Kouzina

Kouzina’s co-founder and CEO, Gautam Balijepalli, expressed confidence in the partnership, stating that the brands will be scaled even more rapidly. The expansion will occur in new markets using an asset-light approach. Currently, Homely operates in select Bengaluru locations, while The Bowl Company is set to launch shortly. The company also plans to extend its reach to additional cities soon.

The Rationale Behind New Brand Launches

Swiggy introduced brands like The Bowl Company and Homely to address market needs in food delivery, providing a diverse range of options for consumers. Arpit Mathur, VP at Swiggy, noted that Kouzina’s asset-light, digital-first model is well-suited for further scaling these brands.

The Bowl Company: A Culinary Favourite

The Bowl Company, established by Swiggy in 2017, is well-known for its signature dishes, which include the Peri Peri Chicken Rice Bowl, Nawabi Paneer Lababdar Rice Bowl, Drunken Chicken Rice Bowl, and Dhaba Style Dal Tadka Rice Bowl.

Kouzina’s Future Directions

Kouzina operates with over 250 kitchen partners across more than 100 cities. The company recently acquired Vasudev Adiga’s and has invested in MOPP Foods, a brand featured on Shark Tank. Kouzina is actively seeking franchise partners to facilitate the growth of these brands through its cloud kitchens, aiming to develop a strong, sustainable business and to go public within five years.