Hyderabad-Born Bagel Brigade Earns Coveted Spot at New York BagelFest 2026
The Hyderabad-founded QSR startup is the only India-born brand selected for the prestigious global bagel showcase, with fewer than 9% of applicants making the cut
HYDERABAD, August 20, 2026: In a significant global recognition for Hyderabad’s growing food and consumer-brand ecosystem, Bagel Brigade, the Hyderabad-founded QSR startup, has been selected to compete at New York BagelFest 2026, one of the world’s most respected showcases celebrating bagel craftsmanship and innovation.
Founded in Hyderabad in 2024, Bagel Brigade has earned a place among a select global lineup of more than 25 leading bagel brands that will come together in New York on November 15, 2026. The selection follows the event’s most competitive selection process to date, with fewer than 9% of applicants making the final cut.
Importantly, Bagel Brigade is the only India-born brand in the announced lineup and the only announced entrant representing Asia, placing a Hyderabad-born food brand alongside established international names on one of the world’s most prominent bagel platforms.
Presented by King Arthur Baking Company, New York BagelFest is held in the city widely regarded as the global capital of bagel culture. For a young company that began its journey in Hyderabad, the selection marks a significant moment — not just for the brand, but for the city’s emerging ability to nurture food concepts with international ambition.
From Hyderabad to New York
Bagel Brigade was founded in Hyderabad with a vision to build what it calls a new “Morning Fuel” category — a complete, portable first meal designed for consumers looking for freshness, nutrition, convenience and speed.
The company has built its offering around kettle-boiled sourdough bagels, in-house cultured cream cheese and protein-forward fillings, supported by a carefully developed beverage programme. Its operating model combines fresh food with the speed, consistency and scalability of a QSR format.
For Bagel Brigade, the bagel is more than a menu item. It forms the foundation of a scalable food system built around portability, versatility and everyday consumption. The company produces its bagels using sourdough starters and makes its cream cheese in-house through a three-day culturing process without gums or preservatives.
The Hyderabad-born company has since expanded its presence to Austin, Texas, and is preparing Singapore as its next international market, with an ambition to build an India-born consumer brand capable of competing on a global stage.
A Proud Moment for Hyderabad
“New York is where bagel culture has set the global benchmark for generations. To be selected in a year where fewer than 9% of applicants made the cut is a proud moment for our team and for a brand born in India,” said Sharath Chandra Reddy Gattu and Dr. Navya Chambalon, Co-Founders, Bagel Brigade.
“We chose the bagel because it gives us the ability to bring quality, satiety, portability and speed together in one system. This recognition validates our belief that an India-built QSR can protect the product, design for scale and compete on a global stage. We are not going to New York simply to participate. We are going to compete.”
The New York BagelFest selection puts an India-developed bagel, India-made cultured cream cheese and an India-built QSR operating model alongside global bagel makers in New York.
For Bagel Brigade, the journey from a Hyderabad-founded startup to an international showcase represents a larger ambition — to build Indian consumer brands that can originate locally, scale globally and compete with the best in the world.
About Bagel Brigade
Bagel Brigade is an India-born QSR startup building a new Morning Fuel category around the first meal of the day. Founded in Hyderabad in 2024, the company combines kettle-boiled sourdough bagels, in-house cultured cream cheese, protein-forward food and carefully developed beverages into a fast, portable and scalable format. The company is building its presence across India and Austin, Texas, while preparing Singapore as its next international market.
