After becoming the household name in the hospitality sector of India, Oyo has now decided to launch its own coffee chain, The French Press.
The company, which is backed by Softbank, has launched an outlet each in Delhi and Bengaluru and will open at least a dozen more soon, two people privy to the development said. Although it is not a single hand investment, the launch was in partnership with a leading coffee chain through a franchise model, one of the sources revealed.
“As India’s biggest hotel chain, operating franchised and leasing assets, we have an active role in the F&B company, with an average of about 25 percent of our income coming through the kitchens we work in some of our hotels. Therefore, we value culinary design and excellent food experience”, said an Oyo spokesperson.
In many of its Townhouse characteristics, it operated these coffee shops and kitchens, both separately and sometimes in collaboration with an established brand, Oyo said. It did not name the partners, however.
The coffee outlet, started previously this month in Delhi, is on the market in the Siri Fort region at the Townhouse premises. It began as a takeaway and a service of delivery. The cafe is also listed on the food delivery app Zomato. Not only does the café serve the guests staying in the property, but it is also accessible to all clients. The company also follows its café room-pricing model. Food products are priced competitively, ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 250.
The hotel start-up’s focus on the food segment has risen exponentially over the past year. In December, it recruited Chandan Agarwal as the food and drink director and cloud kitchen unit. Also, Oyo tested the world of food technology a few months ago with its cloud kitchens and offerings on Zomato-as Adraq by Oyo and O’Biryani’s Oyo.
