-KH News Desk (cbdigital@imaws.org)
Reliance Brands, led by Mukesh Ambani and his daughter Isha Ambani expands its presence in the Indian market by partnering with iconic British restaurant chain Pret A Manger. This move poses a significant challenge to Ratan Tata’s Starbucks India.
In an exclusive partnership, United Kingdom-based coffee and sandwich chain Pret A Manger recently opened its first store in India. Isha Ambani’s company, Reliance Retail, and its subsidiary, Reliance Brands, facilitated the agreement. As part of the deal, Reliance Brands plans to open a total of 10 Pret A Manger restaurants in India, with the initial outlets likely to be located in Delhi and Bengaluru.
The decision to bring Pret A Manger to India was driven by the immense popularity of tea and coffee shops among Indian youths. Reliance Retail and Reliance Brands, under the guidance of Isha Ambani, aim to offer tough competition to Starbucks India, which is owned by Ratan Tata’s Tata Group.
Reliance Retail, headed by Mukesh and Isha Ambani, is making a significant foray into the Indian food and beverage industry with this partnership, introducing an iconic foreign brand to the country. The first Pret A Manger store has been launched at Maker Maxity in Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC).
Darshan Mehta, Managing Director of Reliance Brands, spoke about the venture, highlighting the emphasis on freshness, authenticity, and traceability of ingredients: “Freshness of ingredients, the authenticity of recipes, and curiosity in processes define the new Indian consumer. Our partnership with Pret A Manger aims to tap into this curiosity with an offering that ensures the traceability of coffee beans as well as a zero-additive approach to food.”
In addition to bringing Pret A Manger to India, Isha, and Mukesh Ambani are also planning to reintroduce Shein. This popular Chinese clothing application was previously banned in India during the crackdown on Chinese apps in 2021.
