Hatti Kaapi currently operates 115 outlets across nine Indian cities | Photo credit: Hatti Kaapi

Hatti Kaapi has secured INR100m ($1.4m) in pre-series A funding, led by global investment firms BlueWolf Capital, Investribe, Kochi Holdings and CreedCap Asia. 
 

According to a press release, the new investment will support the coffee chains' expansion from 115 stores to more than 200 in India. Additionally, the funds will enable the company to scale its online and in-store product range, including its 'Six Seconds' brand instant coffee.
 

"To scale up our ongoing efforts to expand our presence across geography and product repertoire, we have been in talks with potential investors since early November 2020,” said Mr Narayanan, CFO, Hatti Kaapi. 
 

“Though the initial meeting was quite encouraging, we had to pause due to the second lockdown but once we resumed the conversation in June 2021 with a group of global and Indian family offices, who were also our patrons, things started to fall in place, and we received funding in our Pre-Series A round. It is a phenomenal achievement keeping in mind that we are still recovering from the near-catastrophic situation," added Narayanan. 
 

The coffee chain revealed that revenues had been hit hard by sharp reductions in store footfall following pandemic trading restrictions and the increase in remote working. 
 

Like food and beverage companies around the world, investment in retail coffee products could prove a lucrative new revenue stream for the Bangalore-based coffee chain. 
 

Founded in Bangalore, India, in 2009, Hatti Kaapi specialises in filter coffee and operates 115 outlets across nine Indian cities. The company, which employs over 400 people, has locations across airports, shopping malls, hospitals, universities and cinemas. 
 

Hatti Kaapi also sells own-branded coffee products via an online store.