Reports indicate that Haldiram's, India's renowned food, sweet, and snacks chain, is attracting interest from a global consortium of investors, who have submitted a non-binding bid worth $8.5 billion for a controlling stake in the company. The bid, led by top private equity firm Blackstone, along with Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and Singapore's GIC, was reportedly made last week for up to 76% ownership in Haldiram's Snacks Food.
Both Haldiram's and the global consortium have yet to confirm this development. The food chain represents the combined packaged snacks and foods business of the Agarwal family's Delhi and Nagpur factions. While Haldiram Foods International is overseen by the Nagpur faction, Haldiram Snacks is managed by the Delhi faction. Plans are underway to merge these entities into a new entity called Haldiram Snacks Food.
In the fiscal year 2022, the Nagpur-based faction recorded revenue of ₹3,622 crore, while the Delhi-based Haldiram Snacks Private Limited reported sales of ₹5,248 crore. Previous reports suggest that there have been other attempts to acquire Haldiram's, particularly by venture capitalist firms such as Bain Capital, Warburg Pincus, and General Atlantic.
Established in 1937 as a retail sweets and savory shop in Bikaner, Haldiram's products are now distributed in over 80 countries.