Brands
Chatpata affair spices up GCC with six dubai stores by March 2025
MUMBAI: Some flavours don’t just travel, they take off at full speed. And India’s fast-growing vegetarian QSR chain The Chatpata Affair seems to be doing exactly that as it maps out an ambitious GCC expansion, beginning with six new outlets across Dubai by March 2025.
Riding a surge of global curiosity for modern Indian vegetarian cuisine especially in Middle Eastern markets where youthful demographics are reshaping food culture, the brand is stepping into one of its boldest growth phases yet.
Back home, The Chatpata Affair has already crossed 100 outlets, opening four stores last week and gearing up to open four more this week. Chennai and Bengaluru alone are set to welcome 20 fresh outlets over the next few months. Its steady rise is backed by strong financials, the brand has clocked a 20 per cent year-on-year growth, with an annualised revenue of Rs40 crore across India and international markets.
Encouraged by the performance of its first Dubai outlet, the company is rolling out multiple formats tailored for GCC consumers kiosks in malls, quick-stop counters in transit hubs, compact stores in corporate zones, and community-friendly outlets in residential districts. The goal: make quick, flavour-forward Indian vegetarian street food accessible wherever people move.
To fuel its UAE expansion, the company is currently raising Rs10 crore (USD 1.2 million) and is inviting master franchise partners, mall operators, petrol station chains, area developers and investment groups across the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
“Our first Dubai outlet proved that modern Indian vegetarian cuisine has a global audience,” said The Chatpata Affair founder Shiju Pappen. “We are now scaling rapidly across the GCC with asset-light formats, a strong supply chain and a concept that adapts beautifully to local tastes.”
Looking ahead to its 2028–2029 vision, the company aims to build a multi-country Middle East presence and cement itself as one of the region’s leading fast-casual vegetarian brands, one chatpata bite at a time.
With expansion plans simmering across continents, The Chatpata Affair is no longer just a street-food brand, it’s becoming India’s next global flavour export.
Brands
Magellanic Cloud names Syed Ameeruddin CEO of e-surveillance arm
Keeping a sharper eye on the future, Magellanic Cloud is putting a seasoned watcher in charge.
MUMBAI – Magellanic Cloud Ltd. has elevated Syed Ameeruddin as Chief Executive Officer of its e-surveillance business, bringing its iVIS and Provigil operations under a unified leadership to accelerate growth in intelligent monitoring and infrastructure solutions.
Ameeruddin, a nearly two-decade veteran of the company, steps into the role after leading the e-surveillance vertical. His career trajectory—from Business Development Manager to the top of the vertical—reflects a steady climb built on operational depth, client engagement, and strategic execution across multiple subsidiaries.
Over the years, he has played a central role in expanding the company’s footprint, strengthening client relationships, and streamlining operations. He has also been instrumental in integrating acquisitions, helping align new businesses with Magellanic Cloud’s long-term strategy while stabilising performance across diverse domains.
More recently, Ameeruddin has contributed to securing key mandates spanning railways, the National Highways Authority of India, and the BFSI sector—wins that have bolstered the company’s order book and deepened its presence in critical infrastructure.
Commenting on the move, Joseph Sudheer Thumma said Ameeruddin’s leadership has been “pivotal in shaping the e-surveillance business,” citing his ability to drive growth, build teams, and deliver strategic wins as key to the company’s journey. His elevation, Thumma added, is expected to further accelerate expansion in AI-driven surveillance and infrastructure solutions.
The transition comes as demand surges for AI-enabled monitoring, centralised command systems, and large-scale deployments across mission-critical environments. Magellanic Cloud’s e-surveillance segment—anchored by iVIS and Provigil—has emerged as a significant growth engine, delivering projects across banking, transport, highways, and public infrastructure.
In his new role, Ameeruddin will focus on scaling platform capabilities, expanding deployments in complex environments, and developing integrated solutions that enhance real-time intelligence and operational resilience. He will continue to serve as Chief Operating Officer of the company alongside his new responsibilities.
With this leadership shift, Magellanic Cloud is doubling down on its ambition to stay ahead in India’s rapidly evolving surveillance ecosystem—where seeing, increasingly, is not just believing, but predicting.
