Pret a Manger strikes deal with Reliance to expand into India

Pret has struck a franchise partnership with Reliance, which will see India’s biggest listed company open up to 100 coffee and sandwich shops over the next five years. 

The businesses plan to kick off the partnership in “major” cities and travel hubs.

It comes as part of Pret’s ambitious plans to double in size and expand into new markets, having received a £100m cash injection from owner JAB Holdings and founder Sinclair Beecham last year.

Pret has struck similar franchise deals to launch in Spain, Portugal, Canada, Kuwait and Ireland. It will also expand its presence in the United Arab Emirates under its bold international strategy.

The India deal, first reported by The Financial Times, marks Reliance’s first foray into food. It already has a string of lifestyle and fashion ventures in India including with the likes of Mothercare, Burberry and luxury jeweller Tiffany.  

Reliance Brands Limited managing director Darshan Mehta said: “Our partnership with Pret is rooted in the strong growth potential of both Pret as a brand and 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… Couple that with the high recall the brand enjoys in the country, it’s undoubtedly a recipe for success.”

Pret chief executive Pano Christou described the tie-up as “our most ambitious global franchise partnership to date”.

Reliance Brands Limited is a subsidiary of Reliance Retail Ventures, which in turn is owned by Reliance Industries - the group that runs toy retailer Hamleys and had been among the frontrunners to acquire Boots before parent company Walgreens pulled the plug on the sale. 

Reliance’s retail business boasts almost 13,000 stores in India.

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