Mumbai : CocoCart, India’s premium omnichannel destination for chocolates, gourmet gifting and global confectionery, has announced the launch of its dedicated premium F&B boutiques vertical, bringing four globally recognised heritage brands to India under one Indian retail and franchise platform.
The portfolio includes Venchi, the iconic Italian chocolate and gelato brand founded in 1878; Neuhaus, the Belgian luxury chocolate house founded in 1857; Café Bateel, the premium gourmet café and gifting brand from UAE and Saudi Arabia founded in 1991; and Le Pain Quotidien, the Belgian bakery and café brand founded in 1990.
The announcement comes soon after CocoCart’s recent launch of Venchi in India, marking the company’s next phase of expansion from a premium chocolate curator into a full-scale premium F&B franchise house. The boutiques vertical will sit at the intersection of premium chocolate, artisanal gelato, luxury gifting, premium cafés and elevated food experiences, addressing a combined Indian market opportunity estimated at ₹25,000 to ₹35,000 crore.
As part of this expansion, CocoCart has committed a planned capex of ₹56.8 crore for the boutiques vertical. The company is targeting 18 stores across Mumbai and Delhi by the end of Year 1, scaling to 32 stores across Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru by Year 3. The vertical is projected to achieve ₹68 crore in revenue by FY28 and ₹143.1 crore by FY30, with an estimated 575 jobs expected to be created by FY28.
Speaking on the announcement, Karan Ahuja, Co-Founder, CocoCart, said, “CocoCart has always been built around one simple belief, that Indian consumers deserve access to the finest global chocolate and gourmet experiences, delivered with the right retail, service and supply-chain standards. With Venchi, Neuhaus, Café Bateel and Le Pain Quotidien, we are not just launching four international brands in India. We are building a long-term premium F&B platform that brings together global heritage, Indian market understanding and experience-led retail.”
He added, “India is at a very exciting inflection point. The premium consumer is more exposed, more experimental and increasingly willing to spend on quality, provenance and experience. Whether it is luxury chocolate, authentic Italian gelato, premium café formats or elevated gifting, the opportunity is no longer limited to festive consumption. We see this as a year-round category, driven by discovery, travel, celebrations, corporate gifting and everyday indulgence.”
CocoCart’s boutiques vertical has been designed around multiple formats, including flagship cafés, boutiques, kiosks and shop-in-shop formats. Venchi will operate across boutiques, kiosks and shop-in-shop locations, with a Year 3 target of 10 stores. Neuhaus will scale to 7 stores by Year 3 across boutique, kiosk and shop-in-shop formats. Café Bateel is planned across flagship café and boutique formats, with 6 stores by Year 3, while Le Pain Quotidien is expected to scale to 9 stores through flagship café and kiosk formats.
The company’s Year 1 focus will be Mumbai and Delhi, with the next phase extending into Ahmedabad and Bengaluru. CocoCart is also investing in a ₹15 crore central commissary to support its café formats. The company is additionally working on India-exclusive launches, including Venchi for Raksha Bandhan 2026 and Neuhaus, Café Bateel and Le Pain Quotidien for Diwali 2026.
The move comes at a time when India’s premium F&B and gifting categories are witnessing strong momentum. The premium chocolate market in India is estimated at ₹10,000 to ₹12,500 crore, with the artisanal segment growing at 11.5% CAGR. Premium café and coffee retail chains are estimated at ₹5,100 crore, growing at 8.2% CAGR, while the premium gelato and artisanal frozen desserts segment is estimated at ₹2,500 to ₹3,500 crore and growing at 18.5% CAGR. The corporate and luxury gifting market, currently estimated at ₹14,000 to ₹15,000 crore, is expected to reach ₹27,000 crore by 2030.
For CocoCart, this creates a strong opportunity to build premium F&B experiences that go beyond product availability. The company is looking to create destinations that combine global brands, elevated retail, thoughtful gifting, premium ingredients and an experiential approach to consumption.
Karan further said, “The Indian premium F&B market is where several luxury and beauty categories were a decade ago. Consumers are ready, the appetite is visible and the white space is large. What is needed now is the right operating discipline, localisation, retail experience and supply-chain capability. CocoCart’s strength has always been in understanding both global brands and Indian consumers, and this vertical is a natural extension of that journey.”
Sustainability is also built into the boutiques portfolio through the parent brands’ global commitments. Venchi uses Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa and has global renewable electricity and packaging commitments. Neuhaus works with 100% sustainably sourced cocoa and is moving toward full traceability. Café Bateel is known for its fully integrated organic gourmet date production with pesticide-free and fertiliser-free farms, while Le Pain Quotidien is aligned with sustainable sourcing and global responsible food standards.
With this four-brand portfolio, CocoCart is positioning itself as India’s premium gourmet gateway, bringing global chocolate, gelato, café and luxury gifting experiences to a fast-evolving Indian consumer market.