India’s leading specialty coffee brand announces UAE flagship launch, eyes broader Gulf footprint
Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters, one of India’s largest and fastest-growing specialty coffee brands, has officially announced a strategic partnership with Ambrosia Gulf to bring its artisanal coffee experience to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, starting with a flagship café launch in the United Arab Emirates by Q4 2025, reported restaurantindia.in.
The partnership with Ambrosia Gulf marks Blue Tokai’s formal foray into the Middle East, expanding its global reach beyond India and Japan.
With over 175 cafés across India and a successful international presence in Tokyo, Japan, Blue Tokai’s new collaboration with Ambrosia Gulf signals a major step toward its international growth strategy. The partnership aims to serve the region’s growing appetite for high-quality, traceable coffee experiences.
“It’s an exciting time for Blue Tokai as we grow beyond India into a market that appreciates traceability, craft, and community,” said Matt Chitranjan, Co-Founder and CEO of Blue Tokai. He added that Ambrosia Gulf’s strong understanding of the local market and operational expertise makes it an ideal partner.
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Ambrosia Gulf, part of the Ambrosia Foods Group and backed by investment firm Pulsar Capital, is known for building scalable, premium food and beverage brands in emerging markets.
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ish Narain, Executive Chairman of Ambrosia Gulf, said, “We’re excited to bring Blue Tokai to the UAE. The brand’s commitment to quality and authenticity aligns perfectly with our goal of scaling thoughtful F&B concepts across the GCC.”
FMCG, HoReCa, and D2C expansion planned alongside flagship cafés
The partnership will also introduce Blue Tokai’s Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) portfolio to the GCC, extending its reach to the HoReCa (Hotels, Restaurants, Cafés) sector and Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) channels. This multi-channel approach aims to establish Blue Tokai as a premium coffee brand across various consumer touchpoints.
“Partnering with a group that already operates leading food brands across India and the GCC gives us confidence as we scale internationally,” said Shivam Shahi, COO of Blue Tokai.
Ambrosia Gulf currently operates the Biryani By Kilo franchise in the GCC and is preparing to launch the first Papa John’s outlet in India in September 2025, further reflecting its strong operational capabilities and expertise in cross-border brand development.
The first Blue Tokai café in the UAE will showcase the brand’s signature offerings including single-estate coffees, manual brewing techniques, and its hallmark café experience centered on transparency and craftsmanship.
