Curefoods secures Sbarro franchise rights for South India

Curefoods has announced that it has acquired the South India franchise rights for US pizza brand Sbarro. According to The Economic Times, the company plans to open around 50 outlets over three years, starting in the state of Karnataka. The expansion will include both customer-facing outlets and cloud kitchens. For those following India’s franchise market, the key feature of the deal is the plan to grow an international brand through two operating formats.

South India rights, starting in Karnataka

Curefoods is a cloud kitchen company whose brand portfolio includes EatFit, CakeZone and Great Indian Khichdi. Its agreement with Sbarro gives it the rights to expand the pizza brand across South India. Karnataka will be the initial focus of the announced plan.

The report states that the first company-owned Sbarro outlet was scheduled to open in Bengaluru in the quarter following the announcement. This should be understood as a proposed launch, not confirmation that the outlet has opened. Similarly, the figure of around 50 outlets over three years is the company’s expansion target, not the size of its existing network.

The geographical scope of the agreement also matters. Curefoods has acquired the franchise rights for South India, while, according to the report, Upper Crust Foods holds Sbarro’s master franchise rights for India. The announcement should therefore not be interpreted as a transfer of the nationwide master franchise rights.

Combining outlets and cloud kitchens

Curefoods has included two types of operation in its proposed expansion: outlets that customers can visit and cloud kitchens. According to the company, using both formats is intended to maximise customer reach.

The target of around 50 units covers both formats combined. It would be incorrect to describe this solely as a plan to open dine-in restaurants. Nor does the announcement establish that every proposed location will have the same outlet format or operating structure.

For the franchise community, the useful lesson is to look at the format as well as the headline expansion figure. When assessing a brand’s outlet target, it is important to establish whether it includes customer-facing stores, delivery-focused kitchens or both. This distinction is fundamental to understanding location choices and operational requirements.

The Sbarro brand and the limits of the agreement

Sbarro is known for New York-style pizza. According to the company statement quoted in the report, the brand had 630 locations across 28 countries at the time of the announcement. That figure refers to its global network, not its outlet count in India or South India.

The agreement is not an announcement of Sbarro’s first entry into India either. The reference to Upper Crust Foods as the holder of the country’s master franchise rights makes clear that the news concerns Curefoods’ role in South India and its proposed expansion there.

Prospective investors should also recognise another important distinction: a company acquiring regional franchise rights does not automatically mean that new franchises are being offered to individual investors. This announcement should be read as Curefoods’ expansion plan, not as an assurance of any specific investment level, return or availability of sub-franchises.

What prospective partners should check

The report establishes three clear points: rights for South India, an initial focus on Karnataka and a target of around 50 outlets over three years. When assessing progress, it will be useful to compare actual openings and operating formats against these announced plans.

Entrepreneurs exploring the possibility of joining the network should first seek written confirmation from the authorised company that partnership opportunities are available. If discussions progress, they should clarify territorial rights, operating responsibilities, investment terms and permission to use the brand. An expansion target should not be assumed to represent an available business opportunity.

Practical takeaway: View the Curefoods–Sbarro agreement as a mixed-format expansion plan for South India. Base any investment decision on verified rights and written commercial terms, rather than brand recognition or the proposed number of outlets alone.