The conglomerate, headed by one of Asia’s richest men, has partnered with UK-based food and organic coffee chain Pret A Manger, to launch its first shop in India.

The cafe at in Maker Maxity, Mumbai will be the first of many shops to open this year. The inaugural Mumbai shop is a recreation of Pret’s iconic London shops with a large dining space spread across 2,567 sq ft, a joint release by Reliance Brands Ltd (RBL) and Pret A Manger said.

The Tata Group, meanwhile, has partnered with American coffee chain Starbucks. The 50:50 JV between Tata Consumer Products and Starbucks launched 50 new stores in FY22, the highest ever in a year for the company.

Tata Starbucks, the most dominant player in the space, has 275 stores across 30 cities.

Started in 1986 in London, Pret A Manger now operates around 550 shops across countries, including the UK, US, Hong Kong, France, Dubai, Switzerland, Brussels, Singapore and Germany.

The release said fresh food and organic coffee lovers in Mumbai can drop by to dine-in with their family and friends or grab a quick takeaway.”The new Pret shop will offer customers a wide range of delicious and freshly-made sandwiches, baguettes, salads, soups, as well as a variety of organic coffee, tea, shakes and smoothie options.”

The release said popular options like the Pret Pickle and Posh Cheddar Granary Sandwich, Avocado and Toms- Stone Baked Baguette, Smoked Salmon Protein Box Salad and a selection of freshly baked goods constitute the food menu and “will bring to India Pret’s classics without any additives to products”.

“All freshly made food will be hand prepared in Pret’s onsite kitchen daily and never held over to the next day,” it said.

Darshan Mehta, Managing Director, Reliance Brands, said they are thrilled to be opening the first Pret A Manger shop in India.

“Freshness of ingredients, authenticity of recipes, and a curiosity in processes defines the new Indian consumer. Our partnership with Pret A Manger aims to tap into this curiosity with an offering that we can proudly say — ensures traceability of coffee beans as much as a zero additive approach to food,” Mehta said.

“With a commitment to provide fresh, clean and sustainable offerings, customers in India can now enjoy the same exceptional food that has made Pret A Manger a beloved and successful chain around the world,” Mehta added.

Pano Christou, CEO, Pret A Manger, said they have been working closely with the RBL team to create an offer for Indian consumers that reflects the Pret brand, while also adapting to local preferences and food habits

“Coming to India has been a goal of ours for a long time, and the opening of our first shop in Mumbai is a landmark moment in our international expansion plans. We’re confident that with the support of RBL, the Pret brand will be a hit with consumers in India, and a welcome addition to the country’s growing food-to-go market,” Christou said.

with agency inputs