{"id":1151,"date":"2026-06-13T16:32:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T07:32:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/india-marketing.jp\/india-news\/thirdwave-bluetokai-expansion\/"},"modified":"2026-08-02T16:52:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T07:52:53","slug":"thirdwave-bluetokai-expansion","status":"publish","type":"india-news","link":"https:\/\/india-marketing.jp\/en\/india-news\/thirdwave-bluetokai-expansion\/","title":{"rendered":"India's Two Homegrown Coffee Giants Expand at Once \u2014 Third Wave Coffee Adds 50 Stores in a Year, Blue Tokai Aims for 800 Stores Worldwide by 2027"},"content":{"rendered":"
\nThis article is based on what we could verify As of August 1, 2026<\/strong> in public records and news reports from India. India revises its tax rules and regulations frequently, and the details here may have changed since. When making an actual business decision, please check the latest information with primary sources such as the ministries responsible and local experts.\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In India's specialty coffee market, the two leading homegrown players have entered a growth phase at the same time. Third Wave Coffee<\/strong> is, under its new CEO Rajat Luthra<\/strong>'s leadership, planning to grow from its June 2024 count of 108 stores<\/strong> within 12 months by opening 50 stores<\/strong> new stores. Meanwhile, Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters<\/strong> aims to reach 800 stores<\/strong> worldwide by the end of 2027, accelerating its overseas expansion. In the urban caf\u00e9 market where Starbucks (Tata Starbucks) has held the lead, homegrown brands wielding price and local rootedness are strengthening their presence.<\/p>\n

Third Wave Coffee Moves Under a New CEO<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Third Wave Coffee raised $35 million<\/strong> in September 2023, with its valuation at the time set at $150 million<\/strong>. New CEO Rajat Luthra has laid out a plan to add 50 stores over the next year, building on existing roastery production capacity along with newly secured equipment and land. The company intends to expand while maintaining store-network quality through a mainly company-owned model.<\/p>\n

Blue Tokai Adds Capital and Goes Global<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The other major player, Blue Tokai, has raised over $130 million (more than about JPY 20 billion) in total funding, including an additional Series D round. With a target of 800 stores worldwide by the end of 2027, it is looking at overseas markets alongside expanding its caf\u00e9 network within India. Its structure of combining in-house bean roasting with D2C bean and equipment sales and the caf\u00e9 experience offers a reference point for late-arriving Japanese brands.<\/p>\n

Where Can Japanese Companies Find an Opening?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Coffee consumption in India still lags far behind tea (chai), but caf\u00e9 culture is taking root, mainly among young urban consumers. As the two homegrown leaders raise their pace of store openings, it widens the room for Japanese companies to get involved on the supply side \u2014 roasting machines, extraction equipment, store fixtures, packaging \u2014 and in supplying beans and flavor ingredients. Rather than a frontal push with a finished-product brand, it's more realistic to think in terms of getting behind the scenes of an expanding chain.<\/p>\n
Item<\/th>Description<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Third Wave store count<\/td>108 stores \u2192 +50 stores over 12 months (announced June 2024)<\/td><\/tr>
Third Wave funding<\/td>$35 million (about JPY 5.3 billion, at 1 USD = JPY 150) \/ September 2023<\/td><\/tr>
Third Wave valuation<\/td>$150 million (about JPY 22.5 billion)<\/td><\/tr>
Blue Tokai target<\/td>800 stores worldwide by the end of 2027<\/td><\/tr>
Blue Tokai total funding<\/td>Over $130 million (more than about JPY 20 billion)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n

Related reading:
\n-Nespresso opens its first Mumbai pavilion at Jio World Drive<\/a>
\n-In India's Fierce Heat, Quick-Commerce Orders for Iced Coffee and Mangoes Rise Tenfold<\/a>
\n-Papa John's returns to India with ghee-roast pizza \u2014 from four stores in Bengaluru to a 650-store plan<\/a><\/p>\n

Source: World Coffee Portal<\/a> \/ World Coffee Portal (Blue Tokai)<\/a><\/p>\n\n

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