There’s a clear shift in how people think about food. Today’s consumer is far more informed—they’re reading ingredient labels, choosing cleaner formats, and actively looking for food that aligns with their health goals and Wow! Momo’s latest launch gluten-free momos is a step in that direction, says Sagar Daryani, Co-founder & CEO, Wow! Momo.
At Wow! Momo, we have always seen the momo as more than just a product—it’s an emotion rooted in comfort and culture. Our innovation journey has been about reimagining this familiar format in ways that surprise the consumer, while staying true to its essence.
The launch of India’s first-ever gluten-free momos, made with quinoa and chickpeas, is a step in that direction. It’s a category-first innovation aimed at those who often feel left out of indulgent street food experiences—fitness enthusiasts, health-conscious consumers, and people with dietary sensitivities. With this range, we’ve struck a balance between nutrition and indulgence, offering a product that’s high in protein and full of flavour.
This isn’t about following trends—it’s about staying close to what consumers are looking for and making indulgence more inclusive. That’s what drives our product development at every stage.
How do you see the popularity of momos evolving in India, and what’s driving their widespread appeal?
The momo has evolved into a national favourite. It started in the hills, travelled through street stalls, and today it’s part of everyday eating culture in cities like Kolkata, Delhi, and beyond. The reason is simple—momos are adaptable, and that’s their biggest strength.
Whether it’s tandoori variants, chocolate momos, or our latest gluten-free innovation, the format lends itself beautifully to experimentation. That’s what’s helped it grow—there’s a version of the momo for every taste, every region, and now, every lifestyle.
We’ve also expanded into the FMCG space, because we realised people aren’t just consuming momos at our stores—they want them at home too. This is helping us take the product from the street to the supermarket, and now, we’re looking at scaling this across borders, starting with Bangladesh and Nepal.
What shifts in consumer behavior and dietary preferences have you observed in the Indian market, and how is Wow! Momo adapting to these changes?
There’s a clear shift in how people think about food. Today’s consumer is far more informed—they’re reading ingredient labels, choosing cleaner formats, and actively looking for food that aligns with their health goals.
That’s where our gluten-free momo range comes in. Made with quinoa and chickpeas, it’s high in protein, gluten-free, and still delivers on taste. We saw a gap in the market—where indulgent, street-style food wasn’t accessible to people with dietary restrictions—and we decided to address it.
At Wow! Momo, innovation isn’t just about being different—it’s about being relevant. Whether it’s experimenting with formats or developing new categories, we’re focused on creating products that match how consumers eat and live today.
4. How do you plan to utilize the $42 million funding from Khazanah Nasional Berhad and OAKS Asset Management to drive Wow! Momo’s growth and expansion?
While the round happened in January 2024 and a lot has changed – Any funding is essentially ploughed in building a super-architecture for growth. You would not find us taking funding money and spraying & praying – instead we’re supercharging Wow! Momo’s journey — rapidly scaling our QSR presence across India, doubling down on our FMCG and frozen foods play with Cuppa Noodles being launched and host of growth products, and investing in cutting-edge manufacturing and R&D to keep delighting customers with innovation. This capital also helps us build a robust omnichannel ecosystem, take our brand global beyond all this; What’s most exciting is having partners who believe in our long-term vision to make Wow! Momo not just India’s pride, but a global icon for innovative, homegrown cuisine.
5. What are the key factors driving Wow! Momo’s revenue growth, and how do you see the company’s performance shaping up in the current fiscal year?
Our key growth drivers continue to be aggressive expansion of our QSR network, the rapid traction we’re seeing in our FMCG and frozen momos segment, and our strong digital delivery play. We’re targeting ~₹900 crore in revenue this fiscal (FY26), up from ~₹650 crore last year (FY 25), driven by opening ~200 new outlets and scaling our FMCG distribution to over 1,500 stores. With a clear line of sight to ₹1,200 crore by (FY27), we believe the Wow! brand is evolving from a momo chain to a complete Indian snacking powerhouse, setting us up beautifully for our IPO plans.
6. What’s Wow! Momo’s long-term vision for expansion, both domestically and internationally, and which markets are you targeting for growth?
Our long-term vision is to build Wow! Momo into a global powerhouse for innovative Indian snacking. Domestically, we’re pushing to become a 1,500+ outlet brand over the next 4–5 years, deepening our presence not just in metros but also across tier II and III cities. Alongside, we’re scaling our FMCG & frozen portfolio to make Wow! a household name — From ordering in or eating out or ready to eat in your kitchen – our aim is to MAXIMISE THE SHARE OF STOMACH. Internationally, we see massive potential in GCC and Southeast Asia markets, starting with UAE, Qatar and Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand & Malaysia. Ultimately, we want to take Indian-origin fast food, led by momos and other Indian snacks, to the world — just like what Domino’s did for pizza or McDonald’s did with burgers.
