Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, May 23: Devyani International, the master franchisee for global food brands such as KFC and Pizza Hut in India, reported a net loss of Rs 14.7 cr in the March quarter, nearly double the loss of Rs 7.5 cr posted during the same period last year.

Despite the widened loss, the company’s revenue saw a healthy 16% year-on-year increase, rising to Rs 1,213 cr from Rs 1,047 cr in the March quarter of the previous year.

A key highlight for the quarter was a 43% surge in EBITDA, which stood at ?187 crore, up from a year ago. The EBITDA margin also improved significantly, expanding nearly 300 basis points to 15.4%, compared to 12.5% in the year-ago period.

The growth was supported by aggressive expansion efforts, with the company opening 257 net new stores during the fiscal, though this marked a drop from the 539 stores added in FY24.

The company attributed its performance to the strategic acquisition of KFC outlets in Thailand and continued store expansion in India. In a bid to further diversify its portfolio, Devyani also acquired Sky Gate Hospitality, entering a new food category, and inked partnerships with three international brands: New York Fries, Tealive, and Sanook Kitchen.

Meanwhile, the company’s stock remained volatile on the bourses, swinging between gains and losses around ?180.58. Over the past month, Devyani shares have gained 3%, reflecting cautious optimism from investors amid ongoing expansion efforts and international ventures.