The Mumbai-based retail conglomerate has appointed Chandramohan Ramadasan as Business Head of its Pret A Manger franchise in India as it targets 10 stores in the country by July 2023
Reliance Brands, Pret A Manger’s franchise partner in India, has appointed Chandramohan Ramadasan to oversee operations of the coffee and food-to-go chain in the country.
Ramadasan joins Reliance Brands from Indian food business Ola Foods where he was a Senior Director of Operations. He previously worked as Chief Operating Office of Pizza Hut and KFC in India.
London-based Pret A Manger announced its Reliance Brands partnership and subsequent expansion into India in June 2022 with plans to launch 10 stores by July 2023 and up to 100 outlets across the country by 2028.
India is a key pillar in Pret A Manger’s ambitious target to double the size of its business within five years. Alongside its Indian growth plans, the UK company has also signed franchise agreements to open stores in the UAE, Canada, Ireland and Spain and Portugal.
Pret A Manger currently operates around 630 stores, including 200 outlets in markets outside of the UK. CEO Pano Christou said in September 2022 that he wants to oversee a ‘genuinely worldwide’ business and will continue to pursue growth in new markets.
The coffee and food-to-go chain faces competition in India from several international brands as demand for aspirational hospitality experiences in the country continues to grow among the middle class and affluent younger workers.
Starbucks opened stores in four new cities in India in the three months ended 30 June 2022, reaching 274 stores across 30 cities. UK-based Costa Coffee opened 14 new stores over the same period to reach 69 outlets.
Meanwhile Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons launched in India in August 2022 with two stores in New Delhi. Tim Hortons India is targeting more than 250 stores within five years.
