A big deal brewing for Starbucks' 13-year old desi rival
NEW DELHI|MUMBAI: Temasek Holdings and ChrysCapital are competing to become the lead investor in Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters, a 13-year-old Indian specialty coffee chain that's rapidly expanding its store network. The Rs 1,000-1,200 crore investment, at a valuation of Rs 3,550-3,700 crore, would make the Singaporean investor the largest shareholder, with stakes ranging from 30-33% in the company.
Blue Tokai is targeting growth in India, Japan, and the UAE, and aims to provide liquidity to existing seed investors. Its current investors include Verlinvest, AB Inbev, and Waterfield Fund, among others. The company's founders, Matt Chitharanjan, Namrata Asthana, and Shivam Shahi, have collectively owned 15.27% of the company as of August 7.
Temasek and ChrysCapital have experience in food and beverage investments in India and abroad, with Temasek backing companies like Haldiram's and Luckin Coffee, and ChrysCapital acquiring Theobroma. Both investors have deep pockets and are eager to capitalize on the growing demand for premium coffee in India, where affluent consumers are increasingly turning to specialty coffee.
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