The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the proposed merger of Sapphire Foods India into Devyani International, clearing a major regulatory hurdle in the consolidation of India’s quick-service restaurant (QSR) sector. Devyani International confirmed the development in a stock exchange filing, noting that the approval remains subject to the detailed CCI order and other statutory clearances.
The deal brings together the country’s two largest franchise operators for Yum! Brands’ KFC and Pizza Hut chains under one corporate umbrella. Devyani’s board first approved the amalgamation on August 26, 2026, and the proposal went to the competition authority on September 10.
Once executed through the formal scheme of arrangement, Sapphire Foods’ KFC and Pizza Hut network will be folded into Devyani International, an RJ Corp group company. The move will create a streamlined management structure across the combined QSR footprint.
Beyond KFC and Pizza Hut, Devyani International holds exclusive Indian franchise rights for Costa Coffee, New York Fries and Sanook Kitchen, alongside its own food and beverage brands. The unified entity aims to use its scale to optimise supply chain logistics, remove operational redundancies and simplify management across more than 3,000 combined restaurant locations. The deal marks a defining consolidation move in India’s organised food services landscape.
