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Indian startup Bagel Brigade selected for NY BagelFest
The Hyderabad-founded QSR startup has expanded to the U.S. with a store in Texas
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Malvika Choudhary - Wed, 19, Aug 2026
- 15:33 EDT
- 62
Bagel Brigade / Handout
Indian quick-service restaurant startup Bagel Brigade was selected to compete at the 2026 BagelFest in New York.
The selection is significant for the Hyderabad-based startup, as fewer than 9 percent of applicants were ultimately selected for this year's BagelFest lineup. The selected participants will compete for titles including Best Bagel, Schmear of the Year, Most Creative, Best Showmanship and Best Bialy.
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More than 25 bagel makers from five countries will compete at Citi Field on Nov. 15, with Bagel Brigade listed as a new competitor representing India and Texas.
Sam Silverman and Sharath Chandra Reddy Gattu / HandoutBagel Brigade was founded in 2024 by entrepreneur Sharath Chandra Reddy Gattu and Navya Chambalon. It has since expanded to the U.S., where it now has a store in Texas. The company is also preparing to enter Singapore as its next international market.
The company operates a quick-service food business centered on bagels and beverages and describes its concept as “Morning Fuel,” focused on the first meal of the day.
Its menu includes kettle-boiled sourdough bagels with fillings such as salmon, avocado, vegetables and other protein-focused ingredients. The company also makes its cream cheese in-house through a three-day culturing process and says it does not use gums or preservatives.
Bagel Brigade QSR in Hyderabad / Handout
Bagel Brigade says its operating model uses centralized production and standardized assembly, with smaller-format outlets. The company developed the model around a gap it identified between beverage-led QSRs, which emphasize speed, and cafés, which offer fresh food but typically operate differently.
“New York is where bagel culture has set the global benchmark for generations,” Sharath and Chambalon said in a statement. “To be selected in a year where fewer than 9 percent of applicants made the cut is a proud moment for our team and for a brand born in India.”
Sharath said the company chose the bagel because it can combine portability, satiety, quality and speed in one format.
In a LinkedIn post announcing the selection, Sharath described the journey as “Kokapet to Citi Field.” He wrote that the company was “not going to New York simply to attend.”
“We are going to compete,” he wrote.
New York BagelFest, presented by King Arthur Baking Company, uses a curated selection process that considers quality, originality, reputation and the communities built around participating bakeries. Organizers said this year's selection process was the most competitive in the festival's history.
The 2026 lineup includes established New York bagel shops and competitors from across the U.S., along with entrants from Canada, Spain, Ireland and India. The participating bakeries represent 10 U.S. states and five countries.
Bagel Brigade will compete alongside established names including Utopia Bagels and Ess-a-Bagel of New York, Dallas-based Starship Bagel and Montreal's St-Viateur Bagel.
For the Hyderabad-founded startup, the Nov. 15 appearance comes as it expands beyond its original Indian market and establishes a presence in the U.S. before its planned entry into Singapore.
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