Samuthra targets remaining Nandhana’s stake by April 2027

By Rebecca Stone

Samuthra Group announced the acquisition of a 50% stake in Singapore-based Nandhana’s Restaurant Group on November 4, with the remaining 50% targeted for completion before April 2027. The transaction links Samuthra to an eight-restaurant operating base before the first international franchise phase starts in January 2027. Neither the purchase price nor the franchise economics were disclosed.

Nandhana’s Restaurant Group serves about 1 million customers annually across four South Indian restaurant brands. The brands are Nandhana’s, Shri Balavinayagar, Nandhanas Express and Ministry of Briyani.

Established in Singapore in 2020, the group centers its offer on South Indian cuisine and signature dishes. Familiarity has scale, if not a disclosed margin.

What exactly is Samuthra buying?

The initial 50% interest covers six Singapore companies operating those four brands, together with their central kitchen, food-production facilities and eight-unit operating estate. All eight outlets will continue with unchanged menus, employees and customer service. Nandhana’s chairman Sivavadivel will lead the existing management team through the transition, with business continuity as the stated priority.

The transaction therefore reaches half of the operating companies and their production assets, not merely a brand license. Samuthra plans to complete the second 50% purchase in phases before April 2027.

Dr. Subash Sukumar, Samuthra’s founder and chairman, said: “The acquisition of Nandhana's marks Samuthra Group's strategic entry into the international food and hospitality sector and is an important step in our vision to take established Indian food brands to global markets.”

Founded in southern Tamil Nadu in 2006, the group operates under Family Eight Holdings and comprises 35 companies across 11 countries. Its holdings include industrial and warehousing parks, mines and minerals, infrastructure and construction, power and renewable energy, trading and entertainment.

The listed footprint spans India, Singapore, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Africa. Samuthra Cement sits within that portfolio.

How will the franchise model work?

International growth will use a master country franchise model (one exclusive partner for each country). Samuthra will support partners with culinary expertise, recipes, training, supply chain and operational capabilities.

The first phase begins in January 2027 and targets Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman. The second phase, during 2028-29, covers the United States and United Kingdom. Interested investors and experienced restaurant operators can contact [email protected].

The existing Singapore outlets remain under Nandhana’s management; planned country markets will use franchise partners. The release gives no franchisee count, capital requirement, royalty or fee schedule, check average, menu pricing or outlet-level margin target. Recipes and training provide a repeatable operating system. Whether that system earns acceptable margins remains unanswered.

What does the India sourcing plan mean?

The expansion should channel approximately S$10 million annually into India through ingredient sourcing, food processing, culinary training and associated investments linked to restaurant growth. Procurement will cover spices, rice, lentils and ready-to-cook products from Indian farmers, food processors and exporters across 12 states.

That commitment links international restaurant growth to India’s agricultural and food-processing supply base. It also attempts to connect that procurement network with the franchise rollout, although country-level purchasing arrangements remain undisclosed. The Singapore central kitchen and production facilities remain inside the acquired perimeter.

How many jobs will the rollout create?

Samuthra expects the expansion to generate about 2,000 jobs over the next three years, including 1,250 guaranteed placements. Its stated allocation includes 100 jobs in Singapore, 450 in India and 680 across international franchise markets; the balance comes from wider group operations and expansion.

The company also plans to recruit and train around 150 chefs annually in India for overseas deployment. A dedicated culinary program in Bengaluru will prepare those chefs for international restaurant operations. The job target is concrete. Its profitability is not.

No payroll total, wage rate or labor-cost ratio accompanied the announcement. Job creation therefore signals scale, not a forecast of unit economics. The same restraint applies to food costs: Samuthra quantified India procurement, but not ingredient use, waste or gross margin by concept.

Can Nandhana’s scale without losing its identity?

Sivavadivel said: “Nandhana's has built a loyal customer base in Singapore by staying true to its South Indian culinary roots and consistently delivering authentic flavours. Our partnership with Samuthra Group marks an exciting new chapter, providing the scale and international reach to take Nandhana's to new markets.”

He said the partnership would preserve the brand’s quality, identity and customer trust.

The announcement arrived as a NewsVoir promotional release, and ANI said it would not take responsibility for its content. That status warrants caution, not dismissal. The company supplied concrete dates, markets, procurement commitments and hiring targets, but omitted the financial disclosures needed to test them.

Execution now rests on three dated steps: launching the first franchise phase in January 2027, completing the remaining purchase before April 2027 and delivering 1,250 guaranteed placements over three years. Disclosure of franchise fees, pricing, food costs and payroll ratios will determine whether this becomes a durable operating model or merely a larger map.