Indian street food café shows hunger for expansion with latest venue

Indian street food café Chaiiwala opened its second Drive Thru on the site of a former KFC and Costa outside Blackburn in Mellorbrook, a move which has created 25 jobs.

Chaiiwala operates globally and this latest £500,000 investment makes it the 112th Chaiiwala store to open worldwide and comes after it recently made history opening the UK’s first Drive Thru business in Bolton serving Indian street food.

Last month equity business EG On The Move, based in Leicester, also opened the country’s first Chaiiwala eatery dedicated to serving British Asian cuisine at London Luton Airport (LLA). Plans are already in place to open similar concessions across similar air and land transportation hubs.

As part of the ongoing partnership with Chaiiwala, EG On The Move is committed to investing in a further three Chaiiwala Drive Thru openings by the end of the year.

Muhummed Ibrahim, chief executive Officer at Chaiiwala, said the new 100-seater Mellorbrook venue is the largest UK store development in the current Chaiiwala network.

He said: “We are delighted to add another great location to our portfolio especially hot on the heels of opening at London Luton Airport.

“Mellorbrook Drive Thru is a great site and an excellent location and we are really excited and look forward to welcoming the local community and give them the Chaiiwala brand experience.

“We recognise the great brand equity we are building within the Chaiiwala network, and with the brand consideration and capital investment of strategic franchisee partners, we are excited for our iconic brand to grow stronger with each new opening.

Junaid Manjra, head of convenience and foodservice, EG On The Move, said: “We are thrilled to announce the opening of our new Chaiiwala Drive Thru in Mellorbrook.

“The location provides a peaceful countryside retreat with convenient access to urban amenities and major transportation routes between Blackburn and Preston.

“This Drive Thru marks a significant milestone for us as we continue to expand and bring our unique blend of traditional and contemporary chai culture and desi fusion food to more communities on the roadside.”