Tea Avenue makes India debut, eyes global expansion

From left: Tea Avenue Deputy Operations Manager Ashan Dissanayaka, Operations Head Mohamed Muneef, Empire Teas CEO/GM Jeewaka Liyanage, Tea Avenue Founder/Managing Director Sajeev de Silva, Franchise India Chairman Gaurav Marya, IFC  Sri Lanka Partner Nazeer Latiff, Tea Avenue Marketing Manager Gihini Hirimburegama - Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

• Tea Avenue to open outlets in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore within next 12-18 months
• Expansion formats to include flagship cafés, kiosks and in-hotel tea stations
• Tea Avenue to launch retail line in India, including premium teas and gift sets, to complement café operations
• Sets target of 200+ outlets worldwide by 2035

By Divya Thotawatte 

Tea Avenue, Sri Lanka’s home-grown premium tea café brand, has announced its entry into India through a partnership with FranGlobal, the international arm of Franchise India Group, as the first step in a global expansion plan that aims to establish more than 200 outlets overseas.

Speaking at the launch event, Tea Avenue Founder and Managing Director Sajeev De Silva described the Indian market as both a personal and strategic priority. “India is one of the biggest tea drinking markets, and for us, it’s the right stepping stone before moving into markets like the UK or Australia. Its café culture is growing fast, and that makes it the best place for us to establish ourselves globally,” he said.

Tea Avenue was founded on the De Silva family’s tea legacy that dates back to 1936, and has now evolved from its traditional tea trade into a contemporary lifestyle café concept. Positioned as a destination where classic Ceylon brews meet modern tastes, the company is now setting its sights on international markets, beginning with India. 

Unveiling this partnership, Franchise India Group Chairman Gaurav Marya said: “Tea Avenue is a great brand, legacy, and founding team which has built and done extremely well in Sri Lanka. The brand is ready to go global, and the first partnership we have announced is to open Tea Avenue in India. Over the next five years, we will have over 50 stores across the Indian market.”

Marya said that India was a natural choice for Tea Avenue’s debut abroad, with India’s tea culture being deeply ingrained in daily life. This partnership with Tea Avenue was not merely about adding another café chain, but about bringing a blend of heritage and artistry to create a premium tea café experience for the ever-growing community of tea-drinkers across India, he said. 

Within the next 12-18 months, the company is set to open outlets in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore, operating under a Franchise-Owned, Franchise-Operated (FOFO) model. Expansion formats will include flagship cafés, kiosks, and in-hotel tea stations. 

Tea Avenue is also set to launch a retail line of premium teas, gift sets, and merchandise in India to complement its café operations. 

This expansion comes at a time when India’s food and beverage sector is shifting towards experience-led, artisanal concepts. While coffee chains dominate much of the premium café space, Tea Avenue aims to position itself as a leader in the premium tea café segment, catering to a growing demand for well-brewed tea. 

“There have been recent challenges, like the fertiliser ban and other policy setbacks, and competition from lower-cost producers like Kenya. But from a global standpoint, Ceylon Tea is still considered one of the best in the world and it commands the price for it. We are a niche product and so we should be competing at that point,” said De Silva.

Tea Avenue has set a target of establishing more than 200 outlets worldwide by 2035, with India forming the cornerstone of this international footprint.