Restaurant India News: Tea Avenue Brings Premium Sri Lankan Tea Café Model to Indian Cities

Sri Lanka’s largest homegrown tea café brand, Tea Avenue, is set to enter the Indian market through a strategic collaboration with FranGlobal, the international business arm of Franchise India Group. The move aims to cater to the rising demand for premium tea formats and artisanal beverages in the country.

Founded and operated by the De Silva family, who have been in the tea trade since 1936, Tea Avenue integrates four generations of tea expertise into a contemporary café model. Known for serving both traditional and modern tea offerings, the brand positions itself as a dedicated tea destination.

Gaurav Marya, Chairman, Franchise India Group, said, “India has a deep, cultural love affair with tea, and Tea Avenue is more than just a café – it’s a sensorial journey steeped in heritage. This partnership is about delivering authenticity, innovation, and creating modern tea experiences that feel personal and premium. We are excited to bring this globally admired brand to the Indian market at a time when consumer demand for artisanal and high-quality F&B formats is at an all-time high.”

Tea Avenue plans to establish multiple locations in major Indian cities over the next 12 to 18 months, starting with Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. The rollout will follow a Franchise-Owned, Franchise-Operated (FOFO) model, with various formats such as full cafés, mini cafés, kiosks, and hotel tea corners to meet diverse retail space and investment requirements.

Sajeev De Silva, Founder, Tea Avenue, said, “India has always been a dream destination for us. There’s a unique emotional and cultural alignment between Sri Lanka and India when it comes to tea. With FranGlobal’s expertise and reach, we are confident that our brand will find a second home here and build lasting connections with Indian tea lovers.”

In addition to operating cafés, the brand will also launch a retail merchandise line in India, including tea tins, assortment boxes, and gift sets, to extend its product reach beyond physical outlets.

Industry experts note that this Indo-Lankan partnership comes at a time when global café formats are shifting towards quality-focused, experience-led concepts. Tea Avenue’s expansion is expected to add momentum to India’s growing premium tea café segment, appealing to both dine-in customers and on-the-go consumers.

The brand has set long-term goals to grow its global footprint to over 200 outlets by 2035, with the Indian market forming a key part of its expansion strategy.