Jimmy John’s Could Soon Enter India: Haldiram in Talks with Inspire Brands
American sandwich chain Jimmy John’s may be headed to India, as Haldiram Group, one of the country’s leading ethnic food companies, explores a franchise deal with Inspire Brands, the US parent company of Jimmy John’s, sources told ET.
Haldiram aims to expand into western-style quick service restaurants (QSR), positioning itself against global brands like Subway and Tim Hortons while appealing to younger, aspirational consumers drawn to café-style formats.
If finalized, the new QSR venture will be separate from Haldiram’s existing FMCG operations under Haldiram Snacks Food Pvt Ltd, which operates over 150 outlets across India and is valued at nearly ₹2,000 crore.
About Jimmy John’s and Inspire Brands Founded in 1983, Jimmy John’s has more than 2,600 locations in the US, Canada, South Korea, and the UAE. It is the largest delivery-focused sandwich brand in the US, generating $2.6 billion in system sales.
Inspire Brands, launched in 2018, also owns Dunkin’, Baskin-Robbins, Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Sonic, operating 33,000 restaurants globally with system sales of $32.6 billion as of 2024. Michael Haley, Inspire Brands’ President for International Markets, said:
“For 40 years, Jimmy John’s has taken a straightforward approach to making quality sandwiches. It’s now time to share them with the world, and the brand is primed for international growth.”
Haldiram’s Expansion Plans Haldiram’s founding family has actively invested in India’s QSR sector. In April 2025, Kamal Agrawal led a ₹150 crore funding round in Wow! Momo through his family office. A spokesperson emphasized:
“We’re exploring ways to support Inspire Brands’ sourcing and fulfillment value chains using our extensive international culinary network. At this stage, all other expansions are purely exploratory.”
Haldiram Snacks Food reported ₹12,800 crore in revenue and ₹1,400 crore in net profit for FY24, following a merger of its Delhi and Nagpur FMCG operations. The move, combined with minority stake sales to Temasek, Alpha Wave Global, and IHC, positions the company for potential public listing in the future.
The Bigger Picture According to the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), India’s food services market is projected to grow from ₹5.69 lakh crore in FY24 to ₹7.76 lakh crore by FY28, fueled by younger consumers, increased dining out, and food delivery platforms—creating fertile ground for international QSR brands like Jimmy John’s.
