Brands
Relaxo Footwears steps up for Mahakumbh Mela 2025
MUMBAI: It’s hoping to make the journey for pilgrims and devotees to the MahaKumbh Mela a little more easy and comfortable – on the feet. Footwear maker Relaxo Footwears has announced its robust participation in the mela where millions of pilgrims and devotees have congregated.
Recognising the physical demands of this sacred journey, Relaxo is providing comfortable, reliable, and stylish footwear for pilgrims traveling long distances, often on foot. Through its popular brands—Bahamas, Flite, and Sparx—Relaxo aims to support attendees with footwear that combines comfort, durability, and contemporary style.
With strategically placed stalls and kiosks throughout the mela grounds, Relaxo is offering a wide range of options at attractive prices, ensuring easy access for festival-goers.
“The Mahakumbh Mela is a celebration of faith and resilience, and it holds a special significance for us. We honour the devotion of millions of pilgrims and understand that reliable footwear is crucial for a comfortable experience,” said Relaxo Footwears VP & marketing head Sachin Chhabra. “Our participation is our way of supporting their spiritual path with high-quality, affordable footwear, allowing them to focus on the divinity of the occasion.”
Relaxo’s involvement extends beyond product sales; the company is engaging in initiatives aimed at enhancing the event’s infrastructure. This includes branding community touch points such as police stations and hosting experiential marketing activities throughout the mela grounds, effectively blending tradition with modern outreach.
Brands
Devyani International Ltd plans three-subsidiary merger to streamline operations
QSR operator moves to streamline structure and unlock operational synergies
Devyani International is tightening its corporate kitchen. The quick-service restaurant operator has approved a scheme to merge three subsidiaries—Sky Gate Hospitality, Blackvelvet Hospitality and Say Chefs Eatery—into the parent company in a bid to simplify its structure and sharpen operational efficiency.
The decision was cleared at a board meeting on March 10 and disclosed in a regulatory filing to the stock exchanges. The merger will take effect from April 1, 2025, subject to statutory approvals.
All three transferor companies are direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, meaning no fresh shares will be issued and the shareholding pattern of Devyani International will remain unchanged once the scheme is completed.
The subsidiaries together operate more than 100 outlets—including dine-in restaurants and cloud kitchens, spread across over 40 cities such as Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru.
Devyani International, the largest franchisee of Yum Brands in India, said the consolidation is aimed at generating operational synergies, optimising resource utilisation and reducing layers within the corporate structure.
Financially, the move brings together businesses of varying scale. As of March 31, 2025, Devyani International reported a net worth of Rs 10,381.02 million and turnover of Rs 33,493.33 million. Sky Gate Hospitality posted a net worth of Rs 761.14 million with turnover of Rs 2,657.57 million, while Blackvelvet Hospitality and Say Chefs Eatery reported smaller operations and negative net worth.
The merger will consolidate these operations under a single corporate umbrella as the company sharpens its focus on scale and efficiency.
Devyani International currently runs more than 2,000 outlets across over 280 cities in India, Nigeria, Nepal and Thailand. Its portfolio includes franchise rights for brands such as Pizza Hut, KFC, Costa Coffee, Tea Live, New York Fries and Sanook Kitchen, alongside its own food brands.
With the paperwork underway and approvals pending, Devyani is essentially clearing the corporate clutter—turning three subsidiaries into one tighter, leaner operation. In the QSR world, even the back office needs a spring clean.
