Haldiram’s has officially opened its first-ever store in the UK, and it has already become one of the busiest new food destinations in London.Located in Leicester Square, the outlet witnessed huge crowds on its opening days, with customers queuing up to enjoy popular Indian favourites such as chole bhature, bhujia and traditional sweets. Videos of the long lines have since gone viral on social media.An Instagram user who shared one such video wrote, “POV: Haldiram’s first ever outlet in London and every Indian here had the same weekend plan. The crowd, the excitement, the long queues, all for Haldiram’s first outlet in London. Would you stand in this queue?”
Viral video sparks buzz online
The footage quickly grabbed attention online, with many users expressing excitement over Haldiram’s arrival in London. Even Haldiram’s joined in on the online buzz. Acknowledging the overwhelming response, the brand shared a post that read: “Delhi called. Leicester Square answered.” The witty remark quickly caught the attention of social media users, with many celebrating the successful debut.One user summed up the excitement by commenting, “Chole Bhature madness.”Another wrote, “Must go there.”Several others said they hoped to see more international outlets, with comments like, “Need it worldwide.”One food lover recommended, “Guys, go for Khatta Meetha by Haldiram’s.”Another user jokingly wrote, “Line mein khade rehne ka trend London tak pahunch gaya.” (The trend of standing in queues has now reached London. )A different comment read, “Man, the profit collected must be insane.”
Mixed reactions from social media
Not everyone was equally impressed by the enthusiasm.One critic commented, “Good. Nobody in India wants to eat their palm oil-drenched and leather chhole bhaturas anymore, so they shipped it to London.”Another wrote, “That only shows how dull the city is when everyone flocks at the same place.”A third user joked, “Has more waiting line than Magnolia Bakery in Gurgaon.”Despite the criticism, the opening generated widespread discussion online, with many celebrating the launch as a milestone for the Indian brand.
Haldiram’s expands its global footprint
While Haldiram’s products have been available in UK supermarkets for years and the company established its first overseas manufacturing facility in the country in 2016, this is the brand’s first official retail outlet in London.Founded in 1937 by Ganga Bhishen Agarwal in Bikaner, Rajasthan, Haldiram’s has grown from a small sweets shop into one of India’s best-known food brands. Today, it operates restaurants and exports its range of snacks, sweets and ready-to-eat meals to markets around the world.The enthusiastic response to its London debut suggests that the brand already has a loyal customer base eagerly waiting for a taste of familiar Indian flavours.
