Venture Catalysts of Mumbai have invested Rs 5 crores of angel funding into Kolkata-based café chain Chai Break. The funds will be mostly used for expansion into other cities.
Chai Break will also explore and ramp up its outdoor catering segment. It already provides these services in some select business circles in Kolkata.
Chai Break focusses on a variety of Italian cuisines, Chinese and Oriental dishes and Indian eatables. Offerings include working-lunch options and full-course meals.
The firm will open around 20-odd new cafés over two years, focusing mainly on East, North-East and South India.
In the East and the North-East, Chai Break will explore options in Tier II and III cities. Down South, it will explore cities such as Bengaluru. The upcoming cafés will be a mix of company-owned, company-operated and franchises.
Chai Break was founded by Aditya Ladsaria and Anirudh Poddar. At present, the cafe has 11 outlets (all company-owned and operated) — eight in Kolkata, two in Bhubaneswar and one in Durgapur.