MAM
Riya Group partners with Air India Express
Mumbai: Riya Group has announced a strategic alliance with Air India Express, a subsidiary of Air India. This enterprising collaboration integrates Riya’s comprehensive visa services on the airline’s website, enabling customers to promptly access and apply for visas to any destination worldwide.
Riya Group’s established vertical Riya Visa Services aims to ease the pre-travel booking journey for customers with its extensive suite of services. This includes worldwide visa applications, processing of all visa types, checklist updates, status checks and much more.
Integrating a one-stop approach, this progressive step is conceived to ease the visa application process and enhance a traveller’s holistic booking journey on the Air India Express website. Passengers no longer need to navigate multiple websites to expedite their visa application process. This customer-centric outlook will enable users to browse flights and apply for their visas all in one place.
Speaking on this lucrative partnership, Riya Group vice chairman Nitin John said “Visa has been one of our most promising and fast-growing verticals. Even before Riya Group pioneered holistic solutions for travel partners, we offered extensive visa services to appease the growing demands in the 80s. Today, through this alliance with the esteemed Air India Express, we are excited to expand our reach and enhance traveller’s experience even before their trip begins. This strategic collaboration aims to curb the prevailing challenges a passenger undergoes in planning their journey. Hence, this integration of comprehensive visa services directly on the airline’s website is our progressive step towards easing a traveller’s visa processing experience.”
In addition, Air India Express chief commercial officer Ankur Garg states “At Air India Express, we are unwavering in our dedication to optimising the travel experience for our valued guests. The introduction of our new Visa Services effectively eliminates the longstanding challenges associated with the often-arduous visa application process. By leveraging this innovative platform, travellers can now navigate a streamlined and efficient system, minimising wait times and eliminating the need for physically visiting visa application centres.”
Brands
Sapphire Foods FY26 revenue rises to Rs 3,125 crore, posts loss
Q4 revenue at Rs 792 crore, FY26 loss at Rs 32 crore amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: If growth is on the menu, profitability seems to have taken a brief detour. Sapphire Foods India reported a steady rise in topline for FY26, even as rising costs weighed on profitability. Revenue from operations grew to Rs 3,125 crore for the year ended March 31, 2026, up from Rs 2,882 crore in FY25. However, the company swung to a loss, reporting a net loss of Rs 32 crore for FY26, compared to a profit of Rs 17 crore in the previous year. Total income for the year stood at Rs 3,153 crore, while total expenses climbed to Rs 3,167 crore, reflecting pressure across key cost heads.
In the March quarter, revenue came in at Rs 792 crore, compared to Rs 711 crore in the same period last year. The company reported a quarterly net loss of Rs 13 crore, against a profit of Rs 2 crore a year earlier.
Cost pressures remained visible across operations. Material costs rose to Rs 995 crore for FY26, while employee expenses increased to Rs 428 crore. Other expenses, the largest component, stood at Rs 1,229 crore, underscoring the impact of store operations and expansion-related spends.
Depreciation and amortisation expenses also climbed to Rs 392 crore for the year, reflecting continued investments in store infrastructure and growth.
At the operating level, the company reported a loss before tax of Rs 37 crore for FY26, compared to a profit of Rs 23 crore in FY25. Exceptional items added Rs 24 crore to the cost burden during the year.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 3,256 crore as of March 31, 2026, up from Rs 3,041 crore a year earlier, indicating ongoing expansion. Net worth stood at Rs 1,389 crore.
Despite profitability pressures, operating cash flow remained resilient at Rs 507 crore, highlighting underlying business strength and demand stability.
The numbers paint a familiar picture in the quick-service restaurant space, growth continues to be served hot, but margins are still finding their footing.
