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| UK sandwich chain Pret A Manger launches in India | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| UK-based coffee and sandwich chain Pret A Manger has become the latest high-profile Western brand to launch in the Indian market. | |
| The firm opened its first shop in India's financial hub Mumbai on Friday. | |
| It comes in the same week that US technology giant Apple launched its first two stores in the country. | It comes in the same week that US technology giant Apple launched its first two stores in the country. |
| Pret said last year that it was partnering with a unit of Reliance Industries, which is owned by India's richest man Mukesh Ambani. | |
| Pret's chief executive Pano Christou said its offering in the country will reflect the company's brand "while also adapting to local preferences and food habits". | Pret's chief executive Pano Christou said its offering in the country will reflect the company's brand "while also adapting to local preferences and food habits". |
| It marks the first venture by Reliance Brands, which also owns India's biggest retail chain, into the country's growing food and drinks industry. | It marks the first venture by Reliance Brands, which also owns India's biggest retail chain, into the country's growing food and drinks industry. |
| Reliance said its first outlet is a recreation of Pret's UK shops. | Reliance said its first outlet is a recreation of Pret's UK shops. |
| The shops will be aimed at "the new Indian consumer", Darshan Mehta, the managing director of Reliance Brands said. | The shops will be aimed at "the new Indian consumer", Darshan Mehta, the managing director of Reliance Brands said. |
| The launch came just days after Apple chief executive Tim Cook opened the iPhone maker's first retail store in India. | |
| The opening of the store in the financial centre Mumbai on Tuesday was followed by a second outlet in the capital Delhi on Thursday. | The opening of the store in the financial centre Mumbai on Tuesday was followed by a second outlet in the capital Delhi on Thursday. |
| Pret A Manger, which means "ready to eat" in French, was founded in London in 1983, with the first shop opening the following year. | Pret A Manger, which means "ready to eat" in French, was founded in London in 1983, with the first shop opening the following year. |
| After the original company went into liquidation the brand was bought by college friends Sinclair Beecham and Julian Metcalfe, with their first store opening in 1986. | After the original company went into liquidation the brand was bought by college friends Sinclair Beecham and Julian Metcalfe, with their first store opening in 1986. |
| The brand currently has 400 outlets around the world, across nine markets including the UK, US, Europe, Middle East and Asia. | The brand currently has 400 outlets around the world, across nine markets including the UK, US, Europe, Middle East and Asia. |
| Reliance Brands operates more than 2,000 outlets across India. | Reliance Brands operates more than 2,000 outlets across India. |
| In 2021, parent company Reliance Retail announced a franchise deal with the US-headquartered convenience store chain 7-Eleven. | In 2021, parent company Reliance Retail announced a franchise deal with the US-headquartered convenience store chain 7-Eleven. |
| The deal helped to cement Reliance's position as India's largest bricks and mortar retailer. | The deal helped to cement Reliance's position as India's largest bricks and mortar retailer. |
| Mukesh Ambani is India's richest person | Mukesh Ambani is India's richest person |
| Who is Mukesh Ambani? | Who is Mukesh Ambani? |
| Mr Ambani has a personal fortune of around $84bn (£67.5bn), according to Forbes magazine. | Mr Ambani has a personal fortune of around $84bn (£67.5bn), according to Forbes magazine. |
| The 65-year-old's late father Dhirubhai Ambani founded a textile manufacturer that would eventually become Reliance Industries. | The 65-year-old's late father Dhirubhai Ambani founded a textile manufacturer that would eventually become Reliance Industries. |
| It is now one of India's largest conglomerates - with businesses including petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecoms and retail. | It is now one of India's largest conglomerates - with businesses including petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecoms and retail. |
| Mr Ambani is the chairman of Reliance Industries. The Ambani family has a 49% stake in the company. | Mr Ambani is the chairman of Reliance Industries. The Ambani family has a 49% stake in the company. |
| The family also owns assets in the UK worth tens of millions of pounds. | The family also owns assets in the UK worth tens of millions of pounds. |
| In 2019, a unit of Reliance Industries bought the iconic UK toy retailer Hamleys for an undisclosed sum. | In 2019, a unit of Reliance Industries bought the iconic UK toy retailer Hamleys for an undisclosed sum. |
| Two years later, Reliance bought the historic British country club Stoke Park for £57m. | Two years later, Reliance bought the historic British country club Stoke Park for £57m. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Retailing | Retailing |