Royal Orchid Hotels has entered into a strategic partnership with Paisa4Plates, a social impact initiative led by Aryaveer Baljee, Youth MP for Hampshire, to introduce an innovative voluntary giving model across its hotel network in India. The initiative will debut at ICONIQA Mumbai, the group’s new upscale lifestyle hotel, before being rolled out nationwide.
The program draws inspiration from the Pounds4Plates movement in London, where restaurants added an optional 0.25 percent service charge to support food-related charities. Building on that success, Aryaveer Baljee has adapted the concept for India under the Paisa4Plates banner. The initiative aims to raise awareness about food insecurity and mobilize hotel guests to contribute to causes tackling hunger and homelessness.
Under the scheme, guests at Royal Orchid’s 120+ hotels—covering brands such as Regenta, Regenta Place, Royal Orchid, and ICONIQA—will be given the option to contribute 0.5 percent of their total bill to a cause selected by each participating property. Funds will support local charities engaged in providing meals for the homeless, mid-day meals for children, and food donations. Guests will be informed through table tents and other communication tools, ensuring clarity and voluntary participation.
“We are thrilled to partner with Paisa4Plates to bring this meaningful initiative to our guests in India,” said Shibani Malhotra, General Manager, ICONIQA Mumbai. “This aligns with our core mission to make travel impactful for all. By offering our guests the opportunity to contribute to such a worthy cause, we hope to create a ripple effect of positive change in communities across India.”
“Hospitality is about more than just service—it’s about building bridges and uplifting communities. After the success of Pounds4Plates in the UK, I felt compelled to bring this model to India, where the need is immense. Partnering with ICONIQA and Royal Orchid Hotels, brands with a strong and growing presence in India, allows us to scale this initiative and make a tangible difference in the lives of the hungry and homeless,” Baljee said.
The Paisa4Plates initiative is designed to be low-barrier and sustainable, allowing hotels to participate as facilitators while enhancing their community engagement. The program will officially launch across Royal Orchid’s Indian properties in late 2025, with plans to scale further in partnership with local NGOs and food banks.
This collaboration also aligns with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ broader social responsibility goals, which include combating human trafficking and minimizing environmental impact. The introduction of Paisa4Plates strengthens Wyndham’s position on integrating community support within its business operations.
Amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, major fast food and coffee chains, McDonald's and Starbucks, have halted operations at some locations in Wuhan, China.
The virus has already claimed the lives of at least 81 victims while more than 50 million people remain on lockdown in 17 Chinese cities.
McDonald's and Starbucks have suspended business at select locations in the Wuhan area, the capital at the Hubei province, in hopes of preventing the virus’ spread.
Starbucks
The coffee chain has temporarily closed over half of its stores in mainland China as an outbreak of coronavirus has surged through the country, affecting thousands of people.
Starbucks’s called the viral outbreak a very complex situation. In order to limit the spread of the virus among workers and customers, the company closed its locations in China at the direction of local government officials as well as "proactively".
Kevin Johnson, CEO of Starbucks, said, “Our immediate focus is on two key priorities in China. First, caring for the health and well-being of our partners and customers in our stores, while second is on playing a constructive role in supporting local health officials and government leaders as they work to contain the coronavirus.”
“I have anticipated raising the company's financial forecast for the year, but would not do so now due to the dynamic situation unfolding with the coronavirus,” he added.
China is the second-largest market for Starbucks, which had almost 4,300 stores there at the end of 2019.
Starbucks stated, “Currently, we have closed more than half of our stores in China and continue to monitor and modify the operating hours of all of our stores in the market in response to the outbreak of the coronavirus.”
McDonald's
McDonald's has closed all of its restaurants in Hubei, the Chinese province area, due to the virus outbreak that has spread beyond the country's borders.
Chris Kempczinski, CEO of McDonald's, said, “The situation is "fluid" and "concerning," and the chain decided to close all of its restaurants in Hubei, which amount to several hundred. But three thousand outlets elsewhere in China remain open.”
“Right now, as you would expect, our priority's really on our employees, on our customers, doing everything we can to make sure that they are safe and taken care of,” Kempczinski added.
China has become one of McDonald's largest and fastest-growing markets, with about 3,300 restaurants and 1,500 more planned by 2022. The country accounts for 9% of all its restaurants but only about four to five percent of its sales and three percent of its income.
क्राफ्ट हेन्ज़ कंपनी के भारत के उपभोक्ता ब्रांड बिजनेस को हथियाने के लिए ज़ायडस केडिला ग्रुप साढ़े चार हजार करोड़ की बोली के साथ सबसे आगे है।
ज़ायडस ने बोली में दुनिया की सबसे बड़ी बेवरेज कंपनी कोका-कोला और यहां तक की बच्चों के मिल्क ड्रिंक कॉम्प्लान को भी पीछे छोड़ दिया है।
क्राफ्ट हेन्ज़ की ये डील महीने भर में तय हो जाने की संभावना है। अहमदाबाद स्थित केडिला ग्रुप इस डील के लिए इन्वेस्टमेंट बैंक एवेंडस के साथ जुगाड़ बैठाने की कोशिश कर रहा है। वह इस काम के लिए किसी प्रायवेट इक्विटी पार्टनर से फायनेंशियल सपोर्ट भी ले सकता है।
पिछले महीने क्राफ्ट हेन्ज़ ने अपनी इटली में रजिस्टर्ड यूरोपीय परिसंपत्ति को टैक्स से होने वाले नुकसानों से बचाने के लिए बेचने का निर्णय लिया। यहीं से भारतीय परिचालन भी होते हैं। कंपनी की वास्तविक योजना केवल भारतीय परिचालन और ब्रांड्स को बेचने की थी।
Zydus Cadila Group is leading the race for acquiring Kraft Heinz Company's consumer brand business in India with Rs 4,500 crore bid.
Zydus has outbid the world's largest beverage company Coca-Cola for a portfolio including children's milk drink Complan.
The Kraft Heinz deal is expected to finalise in a month. The Ahmedabad-based Cadila Group is working with investment bank Avendus, and it may rope in a private equity partner for financing support.
Last month, Kraft Heinz decided to sell the European holding company that houses the India operations and wants the buyer to absorb the tax losses of that entity, registered in Italy. The company's original plan was to sell only the Indian operations and brands.
RI Bureau
Loofre is investing 1 million dollars in expansions and increasing its tie-ups across India to bolster its operation.
The table reservation player has already expanded to nine major cities across India with tie-ups more than 800 restaurants in short span of three months.
Loofre also plans to go international expanding its services to cities like Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore.
The start up is also looking to expand exponentially through organic or inorganic growth and is planning to introduce iwellness categories and vouchers business.
This promoter believes will increase the traffic and profits further for the still pledging start up in equal proportion.
“We are delighted to share that Loofre is now on a major expansion mode. Even though our target is India but we are not restricted to any geographical location and also looking towards expanding our services either organically or inorganically to countries like UAE, Hong Kong & Singapore”, shared Rohit Mahajan, Managing Director of Loofre.
Loofre.com has identified the service gap in this area and promises to change the dining out experience considerably. This is a big-leap forward from the traditional table reservation service and being interactive connects restaurants and diners to discover the best offers or discounts in nearby locations along with the added advantage of personalized hospitality according to the diner’s need, cuisine, budget and preferred ambience.
Additionally, it will also update customers about all the latest events in the city, be it the best offers available in the city or parties happening around.
Loofre will soon come up with an app based next generation booking engine. The website would also be complemented by Social Media Applications, Merchant Applications and Consumer Applications. Eventually consumers can Book, Place Order and Pay through Mobile.
Now, one can book table through social networking sites. The exclusive tie-up with restaurants entails that those restaurants which have gauged the worth of this tie-up have shared Loofre.com’s platform on their websites and apps. Hereafter, all table bookings of people would be redirected to the Facebook page which eventually connects to Loofre.com.
Innovative Foods Ltd (IFL), which owns the Sumeru brand is planning to raise Rs 50-60 crore, according to a PTI report.
The group which is known for making frozen fries, sausages, paranthas and prawns will use the fund for brand development; retail expansion and technology upgrade to rapidly grow the frozen foods arm.
Innovative Foods which is owned by India Equity Partners (IEP) may also look for additional equity or raise the funding through another investor through a share sale, said a top official.
The brand supplies the frozen food to restaurant chains like Domino's, Dunkin Donuts, Cafe Coffee Day, McDonald's and Subway.
"The business plan is with IEP and it is being considered whether to bring in additional equity or to raise the money through another investor through a share sale," Kannan Sitaram, CEO, IFL and Operating Partner at IEP told PTI.
Sumeru is the third largest frozen foods brand in the country after McCain and Godrej Tyson Foods' Yummiez.
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