Reliance Brands Ltd. is set to launch U.K.’s fresh food and organic coffee chain Pret A Manger in India, marking the oil-to-telecom group’s into the booming food and beverage industry.
Reliance Brands, a subsidiary of Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance Industries Ltd., entered into a long-term master franchise partnership with Pret A Manager to open the luxury food chain across the country starting with major cities and travel hubs, according to a company statement.
Pret A Manger, French for ‘ready to eat’, was first opened in London in 1986 to create handmade food, freshly prepared each day. The brand currently has 550 outlets globally across nine markets, including the U.K., the U.S., Europe, and Asia, offering organic coffee, sandwiches, salads and wraps.
“Our partnership with Pret is rooted in the strong growth potential of both Pret as a brand as also of the food & beverage industry in India,” Darshan Mehta, managing director, Reliance Brands, said in a statement.
“RBL closely follows the pulse of Indian consumers and there is an increased consciousness of what we eat–rapidly making food the new fashion,” he said. “Indians, like their global counterparts, are seeking fresh and organic ingredient-led dining experiences which has been synonymous with Pret’s core offering.”
Pano Christou, chief executive officer at Pret A Manger, said, “Two decades ago, we opened Pret’s first shop in Asia and it’s been an inspiration for all of us to bring our freshly made food and organic coffee to new cities across the continent. “RBL are a great partner to help us do just that…,” he said, calling it their “most ambitious global franchise partnership to date”.
India’s largest luxury to premium retailer, Reliance Brands, has over 14 years nurtured and grown global brands in the country. Its current portfolio of comprises Armani Exchange, Burberry, Emporio Armani, Hamleys, Hugo Boss, Michael Kors, Tiffany & Co., Versace, among others. It operates 732 stores and 1,205 shop-in-shops in the country.