Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters has unveiled its plans to expand into the Middle East through a strategic partnership with Ambrosia Gulf, which will act as the master franchisee for the entire GCC region. The partnership will kick off with the launch of a flagship Blue Tokai café in the United Arab Emirates.
With more than 175 cafés operating across India and an international footprint that already includes cafés and a roastery in Tokyo, Japan, this move signals Blue Tokai’s first foray into the Gulf market, bringing its distinct farm-to-cup coffee experience to a new audience of coffee enthusiasts across the region.
Ambrosia Gulf is part of Ambrosia Foods Group, supported by Pulsar Capital — a mid-market investment firm with a strong presence across India, the Middle East, and other emerging markets.
Known for building scalable, high-quality businesses, Pulsar Capital provides strategic and operational support to help brands grow sustainably. In India, Ambrosia will soon launch Papa Johns with its first outlet slated for September 2025. Within the GCC, Ambrosia Gulf already runs the Biryani By Kilo franchise, underlining its strong operational expertise in managing and expanding cross-border food brands.
“We’re excited to bring Blue Tokai to the UAE and share its incredible coffee story with the region. We’re focused on building brands that prioritize quality, authenticity, and customer experience — values that Blue Tokai exemplifies. This partnership aligns perfectly with our vision to thoughtfully grow premium food and beverage offerings across the GCC,” shared Vish Narain, Executive Chairman of Ambrosia Gulf.
Matt Chithranjan, Co-Founder and CEO, Blue Tokai commented, “It’s an exciting time for Blue Tokai as we grow beyond India into a market that appreciates traceability, craft, and community. Ambrosia Gulf brings deep operational insight and a strong local understanding of consumer expectations. We’re confident they are the right partners to build a vibrant network of Blue Tokai cafés across the region.”
“Partnering with a group that already operates leading food brands across India and the GCC gives us confidence as we scale internationally. This is not just an expansion — it’s an opportunity to build a thoughtful, regionally aligned presence while staying true to our core values,” added Shivam Shahi, COO, Blue Tokai.
Beyond establishing cafés, Blue Tokai and Ambrosia Gulf plan to launch the brand’s FMCG portfolio in the GCC market. This will extend Blue Tokai’s offerings beyond its cafés to include the HoReCa (Hotels, Restaurants, Cafés) segment as well as Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) channels, broadening the reach of its freshly roasted, traceable coffee to customers throughout the region.
The first Blue Tokai café in the UAE is set to open in the last quarter of 2025, promising coffee lovers an authentic experience built around single-estate beans, manual brewing methods, and a commitment to transparency and craftsmanship — all hallmarks of the brand’s journey from bean to cup.
Source: Comunicaffe
