US' Classic Rock Coffee brand enters India market

Opens in Pune; plans to open in approximately 10 more cities soon

US based coffee chain Classic Rock Coffee brand has entered in India by opening its first outlet in Pune. City based Food Jockeys is the master franchiser for the brand. The company is plans to expand its presence across India by opening five-six new restaurant clubs over the next two years with an investment of Rs 20-25 crore. Each new outlet will need investment in Rs 1 crore to Rs 4 crore range.

It plans to expand the business in cities of Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa, Hyderabad, Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Ahmadabad, Kolkata, Chennai and Shillong. Classic Rock targets to make average turnover of 15 crore at the end of this year.

 

"We were looking at bringing American F&B franchises to India. During that time, I came across Classic Rock Coffee Co., and found out that they were looking at opening various CRCC franchises around the world. Then Food Jockeys invested a total of Rs 5 crore to set up 15,000 sq ft Classic Rock Coffee club in Kalyaninagar in Pune. We are the master franchiser for the Classic Rock Coffee brand. While two new outlets will be launched by the end of this financial year, four will come up by the end of FY2017," said Avinash Agarwal, managing director, Food Jockeys.

The Classic Rock Coffee launched earlier this year in May is India's first coffee shop with live roasting of green beans along with a live performance amphitheatre, barbeque, grill, bar and lounge. Classic Rock Coffee is headquartered in Springfield, Missouri and has been in business since 2011.

Agarwal, belongs to an automobile components manufacturing business family, is targeting a turnover of Rs 15 crore in FY2016 from Classic Rock Coffee, Pune.

"Every month one big show is organised to attract crowds. It has a great sound system with LED video board and over the last three-four months rocking bands like Indian Ocean, Parikrama and American Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, lead guitarist at American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, performed to full house,"Agarwal added.

There will be a larger format and a smaller format of coffee shops. Large formats include food menu, liquor, larger area for events whereas smaller formats includes only coffee shop.

Classic Rock Coffee offers a wide range of coffees. They roast and cup coffees from all around the world, then they run varying roast profiles on their selected coffees, and cup again. They buy coffee beans from farms in Kerala. Besides 14 different flavours of coffee, the new club has added a full-pledged bar and a variegated food menu to suit the Indian palette.