Cafe chain Chai Point plans to go public next year
What's the story
Chai Point, a popular cafe chain in India, plans to go public by mid-2026. The company's co-founder Tarun Khanna announced the plan.
He also revealed that the firm sells almost 10 lakh cups of tea every day across its outlets.
The announcement marks a major milestone in the company's growth journey since its founding in 2009.
Growth story
Chai Point's journey: From humble beginnings to nationwide presence
Chai Point was conceived in 2009 by Khanna and his student Amuleek Singh Bijral, with the aim of serving authentic, flavorful, and high-quality tea to the masses.
The first outlet was set up in Bengaluru's Koramangala in 2010.
Today, the firm runs over 170 stores across various Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, and Pune.
It serves a range of teas and snacks at prices much lower than larger cafe chains.
Future goals
Expansion plans and unique business model
Chai Point has ambitious expansion plans, eyeing an additional 300 stores in the next two years.
The company follows a unique business model with walk-in and seating area formats, and a delivery service.
Unlike other beverage chains that follow a franchise model, Chai Point retains control over its outlets.
The firm also provides a vending-based solution 'Vending as a Service,' mainly for corporates.
Tech innovation
Tech-driven approach to beverage dispensing
Chai Point is also revolutionizing India's tea and coffee consumption experience by incorporating advanced technologies such as AI, IoT, and cloud technology into its operations.
The company has deployed more than 5,000 smart brewing machines or 'bots' across the country.
These bots can store information on individual preferences like sugar quantity and other add-ons. They also monitor real-time data like consumption patterns, ingredient levels, and error logs for predictive maintenance.