F&B News

Costa Coffee to open 300 outlets in four years

Plans to invest more than Rs 150 crore

Dinkar Farwaha - Mumbai

Britain's coffee chain Costa Coffee is eyeing massive expansions across the country. The international chain, which entered India in September 2005 through a master franchisee tie-up with Devyani International, has long-term plans to open 300 outlets in the next three to four years. It would be looking at an investment of over Rs 150 crore.

Since the launch of its first store in Connaught Place in New Delhi, Costa Coffee has opened 21 outlets in the country. Besides Delhi, the coffee chain is also present in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan. It has recently opened outlets in Jaipur, Lucknow and Ludhiana. "Two more outlets have been set up in Agra and Amritsar this July," said Virag Joshi, CEO and president, Devyani International. Joshi continued, "This financial year we expect to add another 50 outlets." The group is also planning to enter other regions. "We have major plans to expand in other parts of the country. We are arriving in Mumbai in August this year and will soon open outlets in Kolkata and Bangalore." Besides opening new stores, the coffee chain is also introducing the concept of cart and kiosk in corporate offices. While the kiosk model is a full-fledged structure that serves the entire menu of Costa F&B, the cart model is a smaller version, a hot counter that serves only coffee.