Reliance Brands Limited (RBL) has announced a strategic partnership with global fresh food and organic coffee chain, Pret A Manger, to launch and build the brand in India. With this long-term master franchise partnership, RBL will 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. It was a shop with a mission to create handmade food, freshly prepared each day. Over 35 years later, the brand current has 550 shops globally across nine markets including the United Kingdom, United States, Europe, and Asia.
“Our partnership with Pret is rooted in the strong growth potential of both Pret as a brand as also of the food and 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,” says Darshan Mehta, Managing Director of Reliance Brands Limited.
“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.”
As India’s largest luxury to premium retailer, RBL has more than 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 Pret dining experience to one of the biggest retail markets.
“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 per cent organic coffee to new cities across the continent,” says Pano Christou, CEO of Pret A Manger.
“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.”
For more information, visit the Pret A Manger website.