INDIA – Italian coffee brand Lavazza will in the next two years open 100 coffee shops in India to expand its presence in one of the fastest growing coffee markets in the world.  

According to a report by ET Retail, the coffee shops will be set up by Lavazza’s fully owned subsidiary Fresh and Honest and will operate under the ‘Suprabha’ brand. 

The shops to be set up in various formats would be inspired by the South Indian traditional art form – Kolam (rangoli) allowing family members to bond over a cup of coffee in a traditional setting, a company statement said. 

The coffee to be served in the coffee shops will be sourced from the company’s manufacturing unit in  Sri City with the brand promising to offer a specially curated menu for customers. 

“Suprabha is a perfect blend of tradition and science where the essence of the perfectly brewed docotion when combined with milk releases an aroma that makes it all an unforgettable experience”, company MD Jai Ganesh Ramnath said.  

“As a pioneer in the coffee industry for around 25 years and backed by the best resources in the bean-to-cup journey, we will be providing extensive brand, training, and operational support to our partners.” 

The first such coffee shop was inaugurated recently in Chennai by Tamil Nadu milk and dairy development minister S M Nasar along with senior company officials.

 “Our aim is to have a network of over 100 stores across the country in the next two years with a predominant focus in South India”, Ramnath added. 

Suprabha’s brand launch could not be more timely as the Indian coffee cafe market is expected to register growth at a CAGR of over 12% during 2019-2024, according to recent projections by Research and Markets. 

The growth of the market can be attributed to the increasing demand from the young population, rising disposable income, rapid urbanization, corporate culture, and global lifestyle.  

Moreover, the rising number of double-income households, more global exposure, increasing innovation, and media penetration is further fueling growth in the Indian coffee cafe market. 

To fully take advantage of this market potential Suprabha will however have to face off with Tata Starbucks which operates 218 outlets in the country and continues to expand rapidly across the country.  

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