Pret A Manger to launch in India through partnership with Reliance Brands

The Pret A Manger coffee and sandwich chain has teamed up with Reliance Brands to enable it to launch and build its brand in India.

Through a long-term master franchise partnership, Reliance will open Pret A Manger stores across the country starting with major cities and travel hubs. This will include around ten launches in the first year with the number rising to up to 100 over five years.

The move marks Reliance’s first foray into food and beverage retail.

After launching a first store in London in 1986, Pret A Manger now has 550 shops across nine markets including the UK, US, Europe and Asia.

Speaking of the partnership, Pano Christou, chief executive of 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.”

Darshan Mehta, managing director of Reliance Brands, said Indians are increasingly seeking fresh and organic ingredient-led dining experiences which are synonymous with Pret’s core offering. He added: “Couple that with the high recall the brand enjoys in the country, it’s undoubtedly a recipe for success.”