Hello Curry acquires The First Meal

Quick service restaurant chain Hello Curry Pvt. Ltd has acquired The First Meal, a food and delivery startup which takes pre-orders for customized health food for cash and stock. The acquisition allows Hello Curry to enter the breakfast and meal box segment.

The food tech startup industry has been facing shutdowns. Lack of sustainable growth models in a fragmented market and harder customer acquisition has seen investors shying away too, after the initial euphoria. Hello curry which specializes in Indian food has been positioning itself as a quick delivery, hygienic, and convenient chain. This acquisition is Hello Curry attempt to draw a sustainable revenue model for the long term, even as its 33 outlets in Hyderabad, Pune, and Bengaluru remain profitable.

The company is in the process of raising $2-3 Million to take care of the regular growth plan in India and would separately raise funds for overseas expansion in a few months. The First Meal has a subscription platform and through their meal box concept it provides nutritious and consciously prepared food. Subscriptions can be profitable as the business as the business is predictable and Hello Curry would only leverage the existing kitchens and infrastructure it has to reach the subscription customers.

Through First Meal, the company aims to sell 5,000 meals every day, within the next six months. Currently First Meal serves five types of diet balanced breakfast items and daily changing nutritious lunches, tapping around 10,000 boxes a month, with 89% customer retention rate.