Street food franchise targets 1,000 US sites

Chaiiwala, the Leicester-headquartered Indian street food franchise, has outlined plans to open 1,000 stores in the US to go alongside a potential 400-plus outlets in the UK.
Established in 2015 in Leicester, Chaiiwala offers a fusion of authentic Indian street food with a Western twist. The menu showcases breakfast, lunch, desert and all-day items with signature products such as Karak Chaii, Caramel Chaii, English-Ish Breakfast, Masala Chips and Karachi Bun Kebab.
In 2023, the firm signed an investment partnership with Lote Global with an eye on worldwide growth – especially in the US.
Now, founder Sohail Ali has told hospitality trade title Propel he is seeking “experienced franchise partners, distributors, supply chain specialists and real estate professionals to join us on this journey”.
Chaiiwala currently has 15 sites in Canada and around 100 in the UK.
Ali said: ““We think the potential Stateside is 1,000-plus stores, complemented with a fully-fledged UK potential of 400-plus stores. Our plans for entry to the US are initially across five states: New York, Michigan, Illinois, California and Texas. We are looking for seasoned franchise operators as well as franchise operators who have the capability to act as a master franchisee, handling supply chain and distribution for their state as well as cross-country.
“In the UK, we are looking for food and beverage veterans who have a proven track-record and appetite for three to five stores in various clusters across the UK. Franchisees who have existing property portfolios that they can leverage to accelerate rollout is a plus, but not essential.”
The brand utilises various formats for its stores such as High Street locations, small kiosks, and retail park units. Chaiiwala made history as the UK’s first Drive-Thru business serving Indian street food with the opening of its Bolton store in 2023.