Au Bon Pain forays into India
Au Bon Pain forays into India

Au Bon Pain, the Boston-based bakery café chain with more than 250 outlets in the USA, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand, launched its flagship cafe in Bengaluru, in a joint venture with RPG Enterprises’s Retail division. The cafe was launched by Sumantra Banerjee, President and Chief Executive, Retail Sector, RPG Group, Bernard Platt, Senior Vice President – Franchising, Au Bon Pain and Varin Narula, Director and Promoter, Au Bon Pain Thailand. 

Located on MG Road, Bengaluru, the Au Bon Pain flagship cafe will serve a “build-it yourself” range and assortment of breakfast and lunch items such as sandwiches, harvest rice bowls, soups, salads, bread and bakery items, confectionaries, and hot and cold beverages. Keeping in mind the cultural and local taste and preferences, the menu in India will also include a whole range of vegetarian dishes.  

The café has been set up in a space of 2,000 sq. feet and with a total investment of Rs 60 lakh. On the occasion of the launch Sumantra Banerjee, President and Chief Executive, Retail Sector, RPG Group, said “We are extremely happy to be associated with Au Bon Pain. With Au Bon Pain in Bengaluru, we have introduced the concept of fast casual and healthy dining. Bengaluru is a cosmopolitan city with a consumer base that is globally exposed and has evolved tastes.”

Bernard Platt, Senior Vice President, Franchising, Au Bon Pain International, commented, “At Au Bon Pain, we take our service and menu beyond the ordinary. Our market-place concept has been hugely popular across the globe and our customers stand by our dedication to provide healthy, nutritious, flavoured food that is true to its value.We expect a similar market presence and aspire to be seen in the most visible corners and crossroads of urban India.” 

By 2012, Au Bon Pain plans to open 50 cafes across south India with 10 cafes being launched in Bengaluru alone by 2011. 

 
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