{"id":1152,"date":"2026-06-13T16:32:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T07:32:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/india-marketing.jp\/india-news\/chaisuttabar-kulhad-chai\/"},"modified":"2026-08-02T17:05:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T08:05:13","slug":"chaisuttabar-kulhad-chai","status":"publish","type":"india-news","link":"https:\/\/india-marketing.jp\/en\/india-news\/chaisuttabar-kulhad-chai\/","title":{"rendered":"Kulhad Chai's Chai Sutta Bar Reaches 650 Stores \u2014 The Strength of a Homegrown Chain Conquering Small Cities with Cheap Chai"},"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

India's tea (chai) caf\u00e9 chain Chai Sutta Bar<\/strong> has, by its own count, over 650 stores across more than 390 cities<\/strong> reached this scale. Its disposable unglazed clay cup, the kulhad,<\/strong> is the signature vessel for its cheap chai, and the chain has expanded rapidly by capturing young consumers and small cities. Founded in 2016 by Anubhav Dubey<\/strong> and Anand Nayak<\/strong>, the company has also opened stores overseas in Dubai, the UK, Canada, and Oman, tapping into a market distinct from Starbucks-style caf\u00e9s with a strategy of turning homegrown drink culture directly into a chain.<\/p>\n

A Store Model Built Around the Kulhad and Low Prices<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Chai Sutta Bar's distinguishing feature is serving chai in unglazed clay cups rather than plastic or paper. The company explains that this supports the livelihoods of potters across the country who make these kulhads, and a story linking traditional craft to a food-service chain forms the core of the brand. Its structure of keeping the per-cup price low and earning through turnover suits students and young working professionals with limited disposable income.<\/p>\n

A Footprint Across '390 Cities' Beats an Urban-Only Focus<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The strength the company publicizes is its spread across more than 390 cities, not just major ones. Centered on franchising, it has extended its store network into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Rather than prime locations where upscale caf\u00e9s cluster, the approach of racking up numbers at sites such as small-city train stations, university areas, and shopping streets shows the winning path for a homegrown chain.<\/p>\n

The Scale of the 'Homegrown Beverage' Market Japanese Companies Should Note<\/strong><\/h2>\n

India's chai market is a massive everyday consumption category that far exceeds coffee. It isn't easy for a Japanese company to launch a finished-brand product in this space, but there are points of contact through store fixtures, cup supply, tea leaf and spice ingredients, packaging, or franchise operation know-how. Chai Sutta Bar's growth, built by turning a homegrown drink directly into a product, shows that an approach rooted in local lifestyles works in the food-service and food business.<\/p>\n
Item<\/th>Description<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Number of stores (self-reported)<\/td>Over 650<\/td><\/tr>
Number of cities covered (self-reported)<\/td>Over 390<\/td><\/tr>
Founded<\/td>2016 (Anubhav Dubey and Anand Nayak)<\/td><\/tr>
Signature product<\/td>Chai in a kulhad (unglazed clay cup)<\/td><\/tr>
Overseas<\/td>Dubai, the UK, Canada, Oman, and others<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n

Related reading:
\n-Papa John's returns to India with ghee-roast pizza \u2014 from four stores in Bengaluru to a 650-store plan<\/a>
\n-German Doner Kebab opens its first India store in Bengaluru, a franchise that reached 450 outlets in 15 years<\/a>
\n-The Flavor Indian Consumers Choose in the Heat \u2014 Sindhu Mangoes Take the Top Spot<\/a><\/p>\n

Source: Chai Sutta Bar official<\/a> \/ The Weekend Leader<\/a><\/p>\n\n

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