Reliance Retail reportedly exploring Armani/Caffè launch in India

The luxury fashion house currently operates eight Armani/Caffè locations globally 

Mumbai-based Reliance Retail is reportedly exploring bringing Armani/Caffè, the boutique café concept of Italian luxury fashion house Emporio Armani concept, to India. 
 

Several Indian news outlets have reported Reliance Retail is currently negotiating a site for Armani/Caffè in the Phoenix Mall of Asia in Bengaluru, which is due to open in 2024. The Indian retailer is also considering rolling out the Armani/Caffè in Mumbai’s Jio World Centre, people close to the matter have reportedly said. 
 

Emporio Armani currently operates eight Armani/Caffè locations globally. The fashion brand has two outlets in France, in Cannes and Paris, two in Japan, in Tokyo and Osaka, as well as standalone sites in Cairo, Dubai, Milan and Munich.  
 

Reliance Retail has an existing partnership with Emporio Armani to sell the Emporio Armani, Armani Exchange and EA7 brand products in India. 
 

Reliance Retail has a strong portfolio of fashion and lifestyle brands. Its Reliance Brands subsidiary made the company’s first foray into the food and beverage industry in June 2022 with an agreement to launch Pret A Manger in India. 
 

Reliance Brands plans to open 100 stores of the UK coffee and food-to-go chain in India over the next five years.  
 

Combining retail and coffee is growing in popularity among global fashion brands. In the luxury retail segment, Ralph Lauren launched its Ralph’s Coffee concept in Hong Kong and Malaysia this year, adding to its locations in New York, Beijing, London, Munich, Doha and Tokyo. 
 

French-Japanese inspired café and dining concept Café Kitsuné is also merging specialty coffee experiences within boutique retail stores. This year the Maison Kitsuné-operated brand has debuted in Canada, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates.