Gymkhana Fine Foods, the premium Indian food brand born from London’s two-Michelin-starred Gymkhana restaurant, has closed an $8.5 million Series A funding round led by CAVU Consumer Partners. The raise coincides with the brand’s national U.S. debut, launching exclusively at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide and online, bringing restaurant-grade Indian cuisine to American home kitchens for the first time.
Co-founded by Gulrez Singh Arora and JKS Restaurants — the hospitality group behind Gymkhana and a portfolio of 30 restaurants across the UK, U.S. and Middle East — Gymkhana Fine Foods translates the techniques and ingredients of one of London’s most celebrated restaurant kitchens into a retail product line. The brand’s U.S. debut features simmer sauces including Butter Masala, Goan Coconut Curry, Korma, Tikka Masala and Madras, as well as marinades such as Classic Tandoori BBQ, Green Tikka and Roasted Garlic & Chili, each priced between $8 and $10 and designed to deliver a restaurant-quality meal in under 30 minutes.
Since launching in the UK in 2023, Gymkhana Fine Foods has grown to over 1,000 doors across Whole Foods Market UK, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s. According to Nielsen data, the brand is the primary growth driver across total ambient sauce brands in the UK over the past 26 weeks, outpacing Heinz, Mutti and other major players, with approximately 70% incremental sales in accounts where it has been listed for a full year. The U.S. launch positions Gymkhana Fine Foods within a market where Indian food accounts for more than $5 billion in at-home consumption across the U.S. and UK, yet has historically lacked a premium, restaurant-credentialed offering at retail.
CAVU Consumer Partners, whose portfolio includes Poppi, Bai, Vital Proteins and The Farmer’s Dog, has backed Gymkhana Fine Foods since its 2024 seed round. As part of the Series A, CAVU’s Rohan Oza and Jared Jacobs will continue to serve on the company’s board of directors. The raise follows the opening of Gymkhana’s first U.S. restaurant in Las Vegas earlier this year, signaling a broader American push across both the dining and consumer packaged goods categories.
KEY QUOTES:
“Gymkhana restaurant has proved that Indian cuisine belongs at the highest level of global dining. Now we’re bringing that magic into every kitchen. This isn’t just a product launch, it’s the beginning of Indian food’s premium moment in America, and Whole Foods is exactly where that story should start.”
“Gymkhana is a natural extension of the mission we set out with thirteen years ago when we opened Gymkhana in London. Each sauce, marinade and chutney has been created to deliver the same bold, authentic flavors found in our restaurants. As we expand into the U.S., our aim remains the same: to offer Indian cuisine in its purest form, whether you’re cooking in your own kitchen or dining with us.”
Gulrez Singh Arora, CEO and Co-Founder, Gymkhana Fine Foods; Karam Sethi, Co-Founder and Culinary and Creative Director, JKS Restaurants
“The best brands solve problems, and for too long, the at-home Indian category hasn’t reflected the depth and quality of the cuisine itself. Gymkhana changes that, bringing restaurant-caliber Indian flavor into the modern home. We’re thrilled to deepen our partnership and support their ambition to build an iconic global Indian food brand.”
Jared Jacobs, Managing Partner, CAVU Consumer Partners
