Ahmedabad’s homegrown vegetarian restaurant chain, The House of Makeba, is preparing for a significant leap beyond Gujarat. Founded in 2018, this bootstrapped startup—known for its north Indian and global cuisines—has already crossed Rs 125 crore in cumulative revenue, scaling from Rs 1.2 crore in FY 2018-19 to an estimated Rs 24 crore in FY 2024-25, all without external funding.

“With every outlet and milestone built organically through belief, discipline, and reinvestment, we’ve focused on profitability over chasing valuations. We’re proud to have scaled sustainably in a fiercely competitive market,” said Ram Singhal, co-founder, The House of Makeba.

Today, the brand operates seven outlets across Gujarat, serving over 12 lakh diners, with nearly one in three being repeat customers. Its distinctive rooftop dining concept and regional-first strategy have helped it carve a niche in India’s crowded vegetarian F&B space.

The House of Makeba follows a hybrid model, blending company-owned flagship locations with carefully chosen franchise partnerships in cities like Gandhinagar, Vadodara, and Anand. This scalable approach is now set to drive its national rollout, with plans to enter five new states by 2026, targeting markets such as Indore, Jaipur, Udaipur, Mumbai, and Pune.

To power this growth, the company plans to invest Rs 45 crore by 2028, potentially scaling to Rs 60 crore by 2030. It aims to have 20 outlets operational by 2028 and 25 by 2030, emerging as a premium, homegrown alternative to legacy vegetarian dining giants.

India’s dessert scene just got a major upgrade as FES Cafe, the country’s first scalable 100% eggless, dessert-first cafe chain, raised Rs 3 crores in a seed round led by serial entrepreneur Aakash Anand and his venture studio, Wolfpack Labs. Known for backing breakout consumer brands, Wolfpack’s involvement brings not just capital but deep strategic support across innovation, franchising, operations, and brand-building.

With this backing, FES is gearing up for its next phase of aggressive expansion, beginning with its Delhi debut this July, followed by a second outlet in Gurgaon and a Jaipur launch by year-end. The brand plans to scale to over 100 outlets across Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities by FY 2027 through a hybrid COCO and FICO model, along with delivery-first hubs and packaged dessert formats to broaden its footprint. Since its inception, FES has carved a niche with its gooey cookies, whipped puddings, alt-ingredient cakes, and seasonal desserts served in vibrant, Gen Z- and Millennial-friendly third spaces. 

Signature experiences like Coffee Raves and limited-edition menus keep their ever-growing community hooked. In just four months, FES achieved EBITDA-positive status at the company level, saw a 347% spike in delivery revenue, and recorded over 10,000 monthly orders as of June 2025.

“FES was born out of one belief: desserts deserve better,” says Vidur Mayor, Founder & CEO of FES Cafe.

“With Wolfpack’s backing, we’re building not just a cafe chain, but a national movement powered by community and creativity.” Aakash Anand added, “FES has all the right ingredients—buzz, brand love, business smarts, and a founder with the hustle to go big.”

With a vision that blends indulgence and inclusivity, FES is well on its way to becoming India’s Central Perk of desserts—personal, powerful, and primed for scale.

This World Chocolate Day, treat yourself to something truly indulgent with Klava’s Chocolate Baklava, a rich and refined dessert that blends heritage with decadence. Available at Klava, the authentic Turkish patisserie in Bangalore, this limited-time delight is handcrafted by third-generation Gaziantep chefs who bring with them the culinary legacy of Türkiye’s baklava-making tradition.

 The dessert is layered with precision using premium ingredients flown in from Türkiye, infused with the luxurious depth of fine Swiss chocolate to create a symphony of textures and flavours. With each bite, you’re greeted with crisp, buttery pastry balanced beautifully with rich, velvety chocolate, an experience both comforting and celebratory.

Whether you’re a devoted dessert lover or simply looking to elevate your chocolate cravings, Klava’s Chocolate Baklava makes for the perfect indulgence this July. Available at their outlet in Forum Rex Mall, Bangalore and for home delivery via Swiggy and Zomato, it’s a deliciously effortless way to mark World Chocolate Day.