Barista Hits 400-Store Milestone Amidst Intense Competition in India’s Coffee Market
India’s Barista has achieved a milestone of 400 stores, unveiling its latest outlet at the Metro Station in New Delhi. The Haryana-based coffee chain, established in 2000 with its debut site in the Indian capital, has expanded its footprint to 29 stores in Sri Lanka since its launch there in 2002. Operating both standalone outlets and Express kiosks, Barista is making significant strides in the market, aiming to surpass Café Coffee Day’s leading count of 460-plus outlets by 2024.
Rajat Agrawal, CEO of Barista, expressed the brand’s commitment to growth, innovation, and catering to customer needs. Agrawal remarked, “With the opening of this 400th store, we are taking a giant leap forward in reaching more communities and making our products accessible to everyone.”
While positioned as the third-largest branded coffee chain in India, Barista faces robust competition from Café Coffee Day and Starbucks, with the latter boasting 390 outlets. Fueled by a substantial Rs 100 crore ($12.1 million) investment, Barista plans to open 80 new sites in India this year, eyeing a trajectory that could surpass Café Coffee Day’s store count, which has experienced four consecutive years of net outlet closures.
Challenges loom on the horizon for Barista, as Tata Starbucks aims to open 600 new outlets within the next four years, emphasizing smaller-format sites. The domestic market also sees a surge in competition, with Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters, Nothing Before Coffee, Third Wave Coffee, and abCoffee making significant investments in outlet expansion.
International players are not to be left behind, capitalizing on the growing demand for premium coffee experiences in India. Costa Coffee, Tim Hortons, and Pret A Manger have ambitious plans for expanding their store networks, while Dunkin’ undergoes a strategic ‘coffee-first’ rebrand in India, introducing new store designs and a cold espresso beverage menu to attract a younger demographic of coffee consumers.
