Tea Trails to expand pan-India with 500 outlets; raise $2 m investment

Tea Trails, a chain of tea cafes that offers a curated range of the finest teas from around the worl…

Tea Trails, a chain of tea cafes that offers a curated range of the finest teas from around the world, is looking to expand its network with over 500 outlets within the next five years.

“The large part of the expansion strategy is based on franchise network development. This business model is asset light with high RoI. Tea Trails is in the process of raising an investment of $2 million to support this plan,” states Uday Mathur, co-founder, Tea Trails.

According to a press release, promoted by a group of entrepreneurs, in November 2013, the company operates six outlets in Mumbai. In its pan-India expansion strategy, the brand is looking at a combination of company-owned and franchised outlets. In the current year, it plans to open 45 outlets across the country. In the initial phase, the focus markets are Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi NCR and Ahmedabad.

The company specialises in elaborately tea-infused food menu; the signature tea infused dishes include the Burmese Tea Salad, Tea Marbled Eggs, and Tea Infused Thai Bowl.

The range includes 80 varieties of teas with various blends and added benefit - White Tea, Green Tea, Oolong, Herbal and Black Tea. Also on offer are Bubble teas like Taiwanese Bubble Tea and the Tapioca Bubble variant.

Speaking about the tea brewing process, Kavita Mathur, co-owner and tea sommelier, states, “Brewing tea is an ancient art which is seldom paid attention to. We, at Tea Trails, understand the importance of brewing and steeping high quality loose leaf teas to perfection, without which, the experience of drinking tea cannot be enjoyed to its fullest.”

India is the second-largest tea consuming market in the world but the tea café market is practically non-existent, claims the company. Hence, it aspires to cater to this latent demand and be the category creator.

The Indian tea industry and the beverage café market are currently valued at Rs 19,500 crore and Rs 1,800 crore respectively. The company operates in this space and has a first-mover advantage.