Gas stations become the front line of dining out in India: why state-run HPCL partnered with two companies in the same week

India's state-run oil major HPCL (Hindustan Petroleum) is accelerating a shift to remake its fuel stations from "places that sell fuel" into "hubs for food and rest." On June 24, 2026, it announced a partnership with Restaurant Brands Asia (RBAL), Burger King's master franchisee in India, and just two days later, on June 26, another with the food-tech company FoodMojo, two deals in a mere three days. The aim is HPCL's "Beyond Fuel" strategy of monetizing non-fuel revenue at its stations. For foreign brands struggling to secure real estate, the nationwide network of state-run fuel stations could become a "back door" into the market. It is a channel stirring that Japanese food, dining, packaging, and wholesale companies should not overlook.

Two deals in just three days: who HPCL partnered with

In its June 24 announcement, HPCL revealed it will roll out Burger King QSR (quick-service restaurant) outlets at high-traffic fuel stations and highway rest facilities (Wayside Amenities, WSA). Then, on June 26, HPCL partnered with the food-tech company FoodMojo to unveil a plan to build 24-hour, multi-brand food courts at WSAs and large fuel stations. The first one is at the Kurgaon WSA in the Prayagraj region, covering roughly 8,000 square feet. It houses the premium coffee format "Kettl" and the everyday-dining format "Ustaadji ka Dhaba," along with EV charging, clean restrooms, and a rest zone.

From "a place for fuel" to "a place to stay"

HPCL is one of the Maharatnas (top-tier state-owned enterprises) under India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, handling refining, sales, and distribution. While the shift to EVs is putting growing pressure to diversify fuel revenue, fuel-station real estate exists in large numbers along highways and in prime urban locations. The core of "Beyond Fuel" is layering dining, retail, and services on top of that real estate to raise both dwell time and spend per customer. HPCL commented, "We're not just putting fuel into a journey, we're creating value at every single stop."

At this point, the number of outlets and the investment amount have not been disclosed. This is an area where figures can easily take on a life of their own, so this article deals only with confirmed facts.

Industry view: operating partners rushing into open territory

What stands out is that HPCL did not settle on a single partner, but brought on board two companies of very different character at once, a major QSR chain (RBAL) and a food-tech startup (FoodMojo). This illustrates a landscape in which multiple operators are simultaneously raising their hands for the huge open territory of "dining attached to fuel stations."

Dining along highways has traditionally been handled by independently run dhabas (roadside diners). Branded QSRs and 24-hour food courts moving in marks a turning point toward standardization and branding of India's "food on the move."

At the same time, success will hinge on whether menu design and operations can be made to fit the constraints of a fuel station, limited kitchen space, overnight operation, and uneven locations. Placing a "fast, approachable" format like Ustaadji ka Dhaba at the starting point is a first attempt at answering that question.

Implications for Japanese companies: getting past "we can't buy the location" through the state-run network

The biggest wall for Japanese food and dining companies eyeing India is securing good locations, tenant rents, and the cost of building a nationwide network. HPCL's fuel-station network could become an entry channel that leaps over this wall in one move. Rather than building a directly-run store from scratch, the idea is to "slide in as one brand" within a food court attached to a fuel station.

Concretely, there are three ways in. First, supplying ingredients or OEM manufacturing for coffee and light-meal formats like Kettl. Second, opening under license as your own brand inside a food court (leaving operations to a partner such as FoodMojo). Third, wholesaling packaged food, ready-to-eat items, souvenirs, beverages, that can sit on a fuel station's ambient or refrigerated fixtures. All three connect to India's on-the-move demand without carrying the weight of running a store.

Japanese companies already have know-how in food retail at transit hubs like airports and train stations. Following the same logic as the case of selling Indian-grown tea at Delhi airport (Related Articles) and capturing "drinking-out" demand in dining (Related Articles), Japanese companies should seize the fuel station as a new transit hub.

Market ripple effects: redefining the fuel station for the EV era

"Beyond Fuel" is not a one-off promotion; it is a survival strategy for oil marketing companies being forced to rethink their revenue structure as EVs spread. If HPCL moves first, rival state-run and private oil marketers are likely to follow, and the dining and retail market attached to fuel stations could take off all at once. Adding EV charging matters too, since it creates new dwell-time demand: eating while waiting for a charge.

Set alongside the pace at which dining brands are opening stores (for example, Starbucks's expansion in India), India's dining-out scene is expanding its footprint from "prime urban locations" toward "routes of movement." Japanese companies have entered a stage where they need to identify early which route their own strengths can leverage.

Conclusion

HPCL's "Beyond Fuel" is an attempt to turn fuel stations into a combined hub for dining, rest, and EV charging. The fact that it partnered with two companies in the same week shows that competition to enter this open territory has already begun. For Japanese food and dining companies that have long struggled to secure locations, the state-run fuel-station network could become a realistic option for "connecting to all of India without building a single store." Now, before the number of outlets and investment figures are settled, is a good time to design how to get in.

Sources

Indian Masterminds: HPCL × Burger King “Beyond Fuel”
PSU Connect: HPCL partners with FoodMojo for 24×7 highway food courts