The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
MUMBAI, JUNE 30, 2022
Reliance Brands on Thursday announced its entry into the food and beverage space through a long-term master franchise partnership with UK-based fresh food and organic coffee chain Pret A Manger.
RBL entered into this strategic partnership with Pret A Manger, to launch and build the brand in India and open the food chain across the country starting with major cities and travel hubs.
Pret A Manger, French for ‘ready to eat’, first opened in London in 1986. The brand currently has 550 shops globally across 9 markets including the UK, the US, Europe, and Asia, offering organic coffee, sandwiches, salads and wraps freshly made each day.
“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. RBL closely follows the pulse of Indian consumers and there is an increased consciousness of what we eat – rapidly making Food the new Fashion. Indians, like their global counterparts, are seeking Fresh and Organic ingredient-led dining experiences which has been synonymous with Pret’s core offering. Couple that with the high recall the brand enjoys in the country, it’s undoubtedly a recipe for success.” said Darshan Mehta, MD, Reliance Brands Limited.
As India’s largest luxury to premium retailer, RBL has over 14 years nurtured and grown global brands in the country. With its rich cache of insights on customers’ evolving spending habits and an ambitious expansion plan, RBL’s first foray into the food industry will bring the much-loved Pret dining experience, to one of the biggest retail markets.
Pano Christou, CEO, 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 100% organic coffee to new cities across the continent. RBL are a great partner to help us do just that, bringing their years of expertise in the market to help our brand succeed in India. We’re looking forward to working with them on what is our most ambitious global franchise partnership to date.”
