Chaiiwala
Founded in Leicester in 2015, Chaiiwala is an Indian street food café franchise expanding through high streets, drive-thrus, shopping centres and travel hubs, with global growth ambitions.
About Chaiiwala
Chaiiwala brings authentic Karak chaii and Indian street food to a contemporary quick-service café format. The brand operates more than 120 UK sites, over 20 in Canada and a handful in Dubai. Its all-day menu includes breakfast roti wraps, Bombay Bowls, Wala Wraps, salads and sweet treats, alongside Karak chaii brewed with seven spices and tea sourced from Assam, India. Chaiiwala reports serving more than 100 million cups of chaii, with group sales evenly split between food and drink. Led by three co-founders and backed by Lote Global, the business aims to reach 500 locations worldwide over the next decade. Its expansion strategy covers high streets, drive-thrus, shopping centres, travel hubs and other non-traditional formats, with further international growth planned in the US, Middle East and Europe.
Why franchise with Chaiiwala
- Established UK brand with more than 120 domestic sites and an expanding presence in Canada and Dubai.
- Proven franchise model supporting single and multi-unit operators across a range of café formats.
- Flexible locations include high streets, shopping centres, airports and other major travel hubs.
- Distinctive all-day menu pairs signature Karak chaii with Indian street food, snacks and sweet treats.
- Ambitious plans to reach 500 global locations over ten years offer potential for further expansion.
- Founder-led leadership team combines brand experience with senior international foodservice expertise.
Investment breakdown
| Minimum investment | £250,000 |
|---|---|
| Maximum investment | £350,000 |
| Total investment (typical site) | £250,000 to £350,000 |
| Franchise fee | £30,000 |
| Management service fee | 6% of turnover |
| Marketing contribution | 2% of turnover |
| Agreement term | 10 years, sometimes a 5 year break |
What's expected of a franchisee
Property requirements
Chaiiwala typically seeks premises of around 2,000 sq ft in high-footfall locations, ideally alongside established brands. Suitable sites include high streets, shopping centres, retail parks and drive-thrus, with free parking and strong customer dwell times particularly attractive. The brand also operates airport cafés and compact container kiosks at motorway services. Flexible formats allow Chaiiwala to serve customers in both destination and high-transit locations.
Training and support
Chaiiwala provides franchisees with onboarding, initial and ongoing training to maintain brand and operational standards. Experienced in-house teams offer guidance on daily operations, recruitment, HR and staff development. Dedicated marketing and social media teams support brand awareness, while property specialists assist with site selection. Franchisees also benefit from ongoing business development, research and technology improvements. Specific opening support should be confirmed.
Operational requirements
Operational requirements vary by site size, format and location. Franchisees must follow Chaiiwala’s established standards and best practices, supported by experienced operations teams. Staffing levels depend on trading demands, with ongoing training and staff development expected. In-house marketing and property teams provide additional support. Opening hours, equipment specifications and licensing requirements should be confirmed with the franchisor for each location.
Experience required
Chaiiwala seeks experienced food and beverage operators with a proven background in managing franchised brands. Prospective franchisees should understand the demands of running a customer-facing hospitality business and be confident maintaining established brand standards. A people-first approach is essential, with a strong commitment to customer service, staff development and team leadership. Applicants should be prepared to uphold Chaiiwala’s values and operational expectations.
Territory availability
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