LT Foods has appointed celebrity chef, author, and television personality Ranveer Brar as its brand ambassador for the DAAWAT® Delight Basmati Rice segment. Announced on August 04, 2026, the partnership launches alongside a new marketing campaign designed to highlight the product’s Superior Flavour Absorption proposition. The initiative seeks to reinforce DAAWAT’s leadership in the premium basmati category by leveraging Brar’s culinary expertise and storytelling ability to connect with consumers on an emotional level.

The brand film, conceptualized by BBDO India, shifts the narrative focus from the main course to rice as the essential element that elevates dish flavors. Set in a restaurant environment, the campaign uses humor and relatable dining moments to demonstrate how DAAWAT Delight makes "Har Dish Ko Banaye Very Very Nice." The promotional material will be distributed across television, digital platforms, and social media channels to maximize reach among urban and semi-urban demographics.

Ritesh Arora, CEO of India Business & Far East at LT Foods, stated that Brar’s deep appreciation for India’s food heritage aligns with the company’s commitment to culinary excellence. Arora emphasized that the association reflects LT Foods’ focus on meaningful product innovation through technologies like Superior Flavour Absorption. The company aims to inspire consumers and celebrate authentic Indian cuisine while driving innovation in everyday food experiences.

Chef Ranveer Brar described the collaboration as meaningful, noting that basmati rice has been central to many of his culinary stories. He highlighted the ingredient’s role in bringing people together across cultures and cuisines. Brar expressed that the partnership is about celebrating an ingredient that has shaped food traditions for generations while inspiring new experiences at the table.

DAAWAT Delight is available through Q-Commerce, Modern Trade, and General Trade channels. LT Foods, a global FMCG player with over 70 years in the specialty rice business, operates in more than 85 countries. The company reported consolidated revenue of around ₹11,023 crore as of FY26, supported by an integrated farm-to-fork approach and a distribution network comprising over 1,400 distributors globally.

Campaign Details

What the Numbers Show

LT Foods’ significant revenue base of ₹11,023 crore in FY26 underscores its scale in the global consumer food space. The investment in high-profile brand ambassadorships like this one indicates a strategic pivot towards premiumization and emotional branding within the competitive basmati rice market. By focusing on specific technological differentiators such as flavor absorption, the company aims to capture higher value segments rather than competing solely on volume or price.

LT Foods Limited reported a 9% year-on-year increase in consolidated net profit after tax (PAT) to ₹183 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 (Q1FY27), driven by a robust 26% expansion in total revenue from operations to ₹3,161 crore. The financial results, approved by the Board of Directors on July 30, 2026, highlight strong top-line momentum despite margin pressures in specific segments. The company also published its unaudited standalone results, showing a PAT of ₹7.02 crore and revenue of ₹1,176 crore.

The disclosure was made pursuant to Regulation 30 read with Clause 15 of Para A of Part A of Schedule III of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. Monika Chawla Jaggia, Company Secretary and Compliance Officer, signed the communication dated August 01, 2026, confirming the availability of the earnings call audio recording on the company’s website. The newspaper advertisement detailing these results was published in Financial Express and Jansatta on August 01, 2026.

Financial Performance Highlights

LT Foods’ core Basmati and Other Specialty Rice business remained the primary growth engine, expanding 34% year-on-year to ₹2,845 crore in revenue, supported by an 11% volume growth. This segment’s strength offset challenges in other areas. While EBITDA grew 20% to ₹363 crore, margins contracted by 60 basis points due to remodeling efforts in the organic segment.

Key consolidated financial metrics for the quarter are detailed below:

Segmental and Geographic Breakdown

The Organic Foods & Ingredients segment saw a 13% decline in revenue to ₹254 crore, with its EBITDA margin falling to 4% from 10% a year earlier, reflecting ongoing restructuring. Conversely, the Ready-to-Eat (RTE) and Ready-to-Cook (RTC) segment reported revenue of ₹53 crore, growing 13% year-on-year, aided by a 42% surge in Biryani Kits sales.

Geographically, North America recorded a 49% growth, while the India business saw a 19% value growth, contributing 29% of the total revenue mix. DAAWAT’s market share in India rose to 23.1% from 22.4% a year ago. International markets continued to dominate, contributing 71% of total revenue.

Strategic Developments and Legal Updates

During the quarter, LT Foods incorporated a new wholly owned subsidiary, LT Foods Australia PTY Limited, in Australia on June 23, 2026. The company also provided updates on significant legal matters. The Group has an insurance claim receivable of ₹13,410.53 lakhs relating to a fire at Daawat Foods Limited premises in FY2014-15. Following a Supreme Court order dated January 30, 2025, the insurance company deposited ₹26,303.50 lakhs, which was released against a bank guarantee. The matter remains sub-judice before the High Court.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Commerce reduced the countervailing duty (CVD) rate applicable to subsidiary Ecopure Specialties Limited’s exports of organic soybean meal from 340.27% to 75.48% in its final order dated February 23, 2026. Ecopure has filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of International Trade, which issued an injunction on May 11, 2026. Management believes it has a strong legal position and does not expect a material impact on financial results.

What the Numbers Show

The divergence between revenue growth (26%) and PAT growth (9%) highlights the impact of structural changes in the cost base and margin pressures. While the core rice business delivered exceptional volume and value growth, gross margin compression—driven by logistical term changes—and deliberate degrowth in the organic segment weighed on bottom-line expansion. However, the improvement in leverage ratios, with Net Debt-EBITDA falling to 0.48, indicates strengthening balance sheet health despite the margin headwinds.