Spencer?s Retail Ltd, a unit of the Rs 13,500-crore RPG Enterprises, has become the master franchisee in India of Au Bon Pain, a US-based casual dining and bakery caf? chain that has over 200 outlets across the US, Thailand, South Korea and Taiwan.
The franchise will be operated by a joint venture between Spencer?s and
Varin Narula, who
controls the franchisee for Thailand.
Sanjiv Goenka, vice-chairman of RPG Enterprises, said Au Bon Pain (French for a place for good bread) will
be the only organised player in the estimated Rs 2000-crore space between fine
dining and cafes that does
not have any national players.
?We had noticed that there is nothing bakery-led in India, as opposed to
confectionary led,? Goenka said.
?It?s not a tea room? the biggest sales comes from bakery, soups and sandwiches — it?s not confectionery,? Goenka said.
The Au Bon Pain outlets will offer soups and stews, sandwiches and salads, and bread and bakery items, apart from confectionery
and hot and cold
beverages, with a degree of localisation.
To begin with, Spencer?s will open a 2000sq ft Au Bon Pain in Bangalore, then follow up with at 100 standalone stores across India, investing Rs 50 crore in 18 months.
The Au Bon Pain outlets will also come up within Spencer?s own large-format stores, barring those in Kolkata where it has a tieup with Flury?s, the renowned Kolkata-based confectionery brand owned by the Apeejay group.
