Australia's iconic coffee brand to debut in India

Gloria Jean's Coffees, the Australian global brand, will soon be brewing its hand-blended coffee for Indian connoisseurs. The first store is scheduled to open in Bandra in Mumbai on March 15.

The company, which has 829 stores in 29 countries and has franchise agreemsents in 21 more countries, is expanding into India with three stores in Mumbai and two stores in Bangalore opening by end-March.

"We are very excited to be bringing our handcrafted coffees and café experience to one of the world's biggest and most rapidly developing markets," said Gloria Jean's Coffees Group CEO Ian Martin.

"Australia is currently our largest market with 450 stores, but in the next five to seven years, the rate of growth in the Indian market would begin to challenge our Australian market," Martin told IANS.

Coffee consumption in India is said to be over 90,000 tonnes. The newfound craze for Baristas amongst the growing middle class is spearheading the out-of-home consumption of coffee in the traditionally tea drinking country.

For the young and growing middle class with increasing disposable incomes, sipping the cold or hot brew is considered trendy. From good old instant Nescafe to carefully percolated coffee served at Coffee Board cafes and vans, a latte, espresso, mocha or a cappuccino has increasingly become a lifestyle statement.

"As one of Australia's leading franchise systems, we also see potential to use our brand to help pioneer the Indian franchise sector," said Martin.

Gloria Jean's Coffees is expanding into India in partnership with franchise partner Citymax, a Dubai-based hospitality, leisure and food retail company.

"We are also establishing a warehouse and logistical subsidiary business, which will be operational in the next quarter."

When will the Indian capital have a Gloria Jean's Coffees store?

"We see Delhi as a significant growth market in the not too distant future."

The company sources the world's highest quality Arabica beans, which are roasted at its own state-of-the-art roasting facility in Sydney, to produce 60 exclusive blends that are then exported across the Gloria Jean's Coffees global network.

"We are currently evaluating the range of coffee beans for retail that will be tailored to individual taste profile of Indians," said Martin.

As demand for variety becomes the flavour of the season, Gloria Jean's Coffees will not disappoint with its exclusive blends.