Michelin-Starred Gymkhana Expands Reach with Supermarket Curry Sauces

Gymkhana, a renowned two-Michelin-starred Indian restaurant in London, is expanding its brand beyond its £160 tasting menus to reach a wider audience. The restaurant has launched a range of cooking sauces and marinades in major UK supermarkets, including Tesco, in addition to its existing presence in Ocado, Waitrose, and Sainsbury's.

This move taps into the growing trend of consumers opting for gourmet meals at home. Gymkhana Fine Foods, the grocery arm of the restaurant, was launched in 2023. Its chief executive, Gulrez Arora, stated that the "dining-in boom" is advantageous for the brand. The restaurant, which opened in 2013 and received its first Michelin star in 2014, earned its second star in 2024, making it one of only four Indian restaurants globally to achieve this distinction.

Arora believes that premium food options for home cooking will appeal to consumers seeking "permissible, kind of accessible luxury" as they look to economize on dining out. He noted that the grocery products offer a "better than anything else I can get around my neighbourhood" experience. The business also benefits from increased interest in home entertaining, influenced by social media platforms.

While supermarkets have been increasing their offerings of restaurant-quality ready-meals and cook-at-home kits, Arora sees a specific gap in the market for high-quality Indian cuisine. He described the existing supermarket Indian food segment as predominantly mass-market with affordable prices and a "fairly kind of substandard, dilutive experience." Gymkhana aims to provide a "whole another level of taste, flavor, consumer experience."

Gymkhana's financial performance has shown significant growth, with sales for the year ending December 31, 2025, reaching £4.9 million, more than double the £2.14 million recorded the previous year.

US Expansion Plans

The brand is also targeting expansion in the United States, with a restaurant opening in Las Vegas at the end of 2025 and grocery products available through Whole Foods. Arora sees potential for "Gymkhana in every key city, be it LA, New York, Miami, over the next five years." He acknowledges that while Indian food is a heritage cuisine in the UK, it is a younger category in the US, though rapidly evolving.

Gymkhana's profile has been amplified by celebrity endorsements. Pop star Taylor Swift and NFL player Travis Kelce visited the London restaurant in May, with Kelce later praising it on his podcast. Other celebrity patrons include Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, and Selena Gomez. Arora emphasized that these visits are organic and contribute to awareness in ways that "money can't buy."