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The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is gaining momentum. With Virat Kohli achieving his 50th One Day International century on Wednesday in the semi-finals against New Zealand, cricket fans in the country are in a frenzy.
Check South Africa vs Australia live full scored in ICC World Cup 2023 semifinal here
As the pitch heats up for a grand finalé, restaurants and eateries are capitalising on the World Cup frenzy.
“As the cricket season intensifies, it’s not just the excitement on the field that’s spiking; it’s also the demand for delectable delights delivered right to the doorstep,” says Sidharth Bhakoo, vice-president, national business head at the food delivery platform Swiggy.
The platform’s order numbers have been steadily rising, and the ongoing World Cup has brought a remarkable surge.
“From metros like Bengaluru to smaller towns and cities, the menu favourites — masala dosa, chicken biryani, samosas, and burgers — are scoring big as the perfect match-day companions. It’s a winning streak for both cricket fans and our food lovers,” he adds.
Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality, which operates food chains like SOCIAL and Smoke House Deli, has seen a 20-30 per cent spike in order volumes during the ongoing event.
SOCIAL is also screening live matches for fans.
“Sporting events like the cricket World Cup have a significant impact on the business we do. Your nearby café or bar is the next best place to a stadium, where you can feel camaraderie with fellow fans,” says Riyaaz Amlani, Managing Director of Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality.
“Marquee events like Wednesday’s semi-final have a massive impact on both orders and dine-in,” he adds.
Ashish Ahuja, director of Pebble Street at New Delhi’s New Friend’s Colony, says the café was packed on Wednesday.
“It has generally been a dull World Cup season, except for the India-Pakistan match and the semi-final. We have had a full house right from when the match began,” says Ahuja, adding that pizzas and beer are seeing the most sales.
“We have seen a 60-70 per cent uptick in revenue on days of marquee events,” he further says.
Packaged snacks also saw an uptick in sales on Wednesday.
“There’s a noticeable buzz and uptick in demand as people have been stocking up on their favorite snacks for an immersive match-viewing experience,” says Saumya Rathor, category lead-potato chips, PepsiCo India.
The fast-moving consumer goods major brought back M S Dhoni for their ‘No Lay’s, No Game’ campaign. “The campaign underscores the indisputable truth that for true fans, watching a match without Lay’s is simply unthinkable,” Rathor adds.
