Reliance Brands, a subsidiary of Reliance Retail, has launched its first 'Pret a Manger' sandwich and coffee outlet in India, marking Mukesh Ambani's entry into the coffee business to compete with Tata Group's Starbucks. The first store of 'Pret a Manger' in India has been opened at Maker Maxity in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai. Reliance Brands plans to open a total of 10 'Pret a Manger' stores in India this year in collaboration with the British sandwich and coffee chain. The company also plans to open 100 'Pret a Manger' stores in India over the next five years.
Starbucks, with 275 stores across 30 cities, is currently the largest player in the coffee business in India. However, experts believe that Reliance Brands' 'pret a manager' will prove to be a big competitor to Tata Starbucks in the long term. The arrival of 'Pret a Manger' could put Starbucks' high pricing at risk.
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Pano Christou, CEO, Pret a Manger, said that coming to India has been a long-standing goal of theirs and the opening of the first store in Mumbai is a landmark moment in the company's international expansion plan. He added that they are working closely with the RBL (Reliance Brands) team to better offer Indian consumers and incorporate local preferences and food habits into the Pret brand.