Secret Ingredient to Spearhead Nationwide Expansion of Pekoe Café

Secret Ingredient to Spearhead Nationwide Expansion of Pekoe Café

By Nishang Narayan

Published on March 11, 2025

Leading Food Consultancy Firm Partners with Dalmia Gold Tea Group to Bring a Unique Tea Experience to Indian Cities

Secret Ingredient, India’s top food consulting firm specializing in restaurant and hospitality solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with Dalmia Gold Tea Group to expand Pekoe Café across India. This collaboration aims to bring Pekoe’s distinctive tea-drinking experience to cities nationwide, building on its current success in Patna and Siliguri.

A Unique Tea Concept Expanding Across India

Secret Ingredient will lead the expansion, ensuring brand consistency while adapting to local preferences. Pekoe Café redefines India’s chai tapri culture by blending traditional flavors with a refined and contemporary setting. The café offers a diverse menu of Indian snacks that pair perfectly with its signature teas, all within a quirky, inviting ambiance.

Nikita Dalmia, Co-Founder of Pekoe Café, shared her vision:
"Pekoe is a vibrant celebration of India’s love for chai tapri and street food, reimagined with sophistication. Our mission is to popularize Indian tea culture alongside high-quality teas from the House of Dalmia Gold. We wanted a partner who understands this unique proposition while enhancing our brand value, and Secret Ingredient is the perfect fit to take our concept across India."

The Role of Secret Ingredient in the Expansion

Secret Ingredient’s expertise in restaurant concept development, market analysis, and operational strategy will be instrumental in Pekoe’s nationwide growth. The firm has mapped out a phased rollout over the next year, targeting key cities to ensure success.

Kula Naidu, Director of Secret Ingredient, emphasized their approach:

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"We are excited to bring the Pekoe Café experience to more cities. Our team will work diligently to preserve the brand’s essence while tailoring each location to resonate with local tastes and cultures."

Sid Mathur, Director at Secret Ingredient, added:

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"Pekoe has already won the hearts of tea enthusiasts in Patna and Siliguri. As we expand, we remain committed to delivering an elevated and seamless experience that delights customers across India."

Expansion Strategy & Future Plans

The expansion strategy focuses on:

  • Market Research & Location Selection – Identifying prime locations with high footfall
  • Interior Design & Ambience – Maintaining the quirky and inviting Pekoe brand aesthetic
  • Menu Development – Adapting offerings to local flavors while preserving Pekoe’s signature selections
  • Staff Training Programs – Ensuring high service standards across all new outlets

Pekoe Café: A Tea Lover’s Haven

Founded by Dalmia Gold Tea, Pekoe Café offers an affordable yet high-quality tea and snacking experience. Operating from 9 AM to 10 PM daily, it serves a wide range of tea varieties alongside signature dishes such as:

  • Kullhad Pizza
  • Authentic Mumbai Vada Pav
  • Darjeeling Momos
  • “Gud Wali Chai” – a favorite among patrons

For more details, visit: https://pekoebydg.in/

About Secret Ingredient

Secret Ingredient is a leading consulting firm for the restaurant and hospitality industry, specializing in concept creation, strategy, and operational excellence. Notable projects include The Khyber at Gulmarg, Kaansa at Crowne Plaza Gurgaon, Lyrah at Trident Gurgaon, and Koyo Koyo at Hyatt Centric Chandigarh. The firm has also advised brands like Swiggy, Anardana, and Olive Group.

For more details, visit: https://secretingredient.co.in/

About Dalmia Gold Tea Group

Dalmia Gold Tea Group is a renowned tea brand, especially popular in Bihar and Jharkhand for over 25 years. Its venture into the café industry with Pekoe showcases its dedication to innovation and quality in the Indian tea market.

For more details, visit: https://dalmiagold.com/


ButterBrews Opens New Café in Aundh with Coffee-First Experience

ButterBrews Opens New Café in Aundh with Coffee-First Experience

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on April 7, 2026

ButterBrews has opened its new outlet in Aundh, marking its largest format café so far. The new space has been designed as an everyday destination, bringing together a comfortable layout, a strong all-day menu, and a clear focus on coffee.

The café has been planned with multiple zones to suit different preferences. It includes an indoor seating area, a non-smoking outdoor section with an amphitheatre-style setup, and a separate smoking zone placed away from the main space to ensure a smooth and relaxed experience for all guests.

The menu offers a premium all-day selection built around fresh ingredients. Guests can choose from breakfast options, healthy bowls, wholesome meals, and vegan dishes, making it suitable for different tastes and dining needs throughout the day.

Coffee continues to be at the heart of the ButterBrews experience. The café uses 100 percent Arabica beans and serves both house blends and manually brewed coffees. It also features guest roasters like Tulum Coffee Roasters and Ground Zero Coffee Roasters, adding variety to its coffee offerings.

Desserts and baked items are prepared in-house at ButterBrews’ bakehouse. Popular choices include the Basque cheesecake and cinnamon rolls, which have already become favourites among guests.

Commenting on the opening, Harsh Agarwal, Co-founder, ButterBrews, said, “ButterBrews, Aundh is our largest format cafe yet. We have built a stronger indoor experience and created clear zones across the cafe so guests can settle in the way they like. We want this to be an address people can count on through the week.”

Umang Bhimrajka, Co-founder, ButterBrews, added, “For us, coffee has always been non-negotiable. With 100 percent Arabica beans, house espresso coffees and manual brews that rotate speciality roasters, we are bringing a program that balances familiarity with discovery. Alongside that, the all-day menu and our bakehouse desserts complete the experience we want to offer Aundh.”


McDonald’s India Brings Back Limited-Edition Sipper with App-Exclusive Meals

McDonald’s India Brings Back Limited-Edition Sipper with App-Exclusive Meals

By Hariharan U

Published on April 7, 2026

McDonald's India – North and East has reintroduced its popular limited-edition Sipper, bringing back the fan-favourite collectible as part of its app-exclusive Super Sipper Meals. The offering follows strong customer demand earlier this year and is available for a limited time across select regions.

Accessible exclusively through the McDonald's App, the Super Sipper Meals can be ordered between 4 PM and 7 PM, adding an element of exclusivity and urgency for customers looking to grab the collectible while stocks last.

The meals are offered in two variants, catering to both vegetarian and non-vegetarian preferences. The Veg option, includes a McAloo Tikki Burger, Medium Fries, Small Coke, and Pizza McPuff. The Non-Veg variant, features a McGrill Burger along with Medium Fries, Small Coke, and Pizza McPuff.

Commenting on the reintroduction, Rajeev Ranjan said the overwhelming response to the earlier launch highlighted customers’ interest in unique and engaging experiences. He added that the brand remains focused on delivering offerings that combine value, taste, and memorable moments.

Operated by Connaught Plaza Restaurants Pvt. Ltd., McDonald’s India – North and East continues to strengthen its presence with over 295 restaurants and 190+ McCafé outlets across the region. The brand’s latest offering reflects its ongoing effort to create experience-led promotions that go beyond traditional value meals.

By combining everyday favourites with collectible merchandise, the reintroduced Sipper campaign aims to enhance customer engagement while driving digital adoption through its app ecosystem.


Ambience Mall Gurugram Welcomes CoCo Ichibanya to Its Dining Line-Up

Ambience Mall Gurugram Welcomes CoCo Ichibanya to Its Dining Line-Up

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on April 7, 2026

CoCo Ichibanya has opened its new outlet at Ambience Mall Gurugram, adding a global flavour to the mall’s growing food and beverage offerings. Located on the third floor, the restaurant spans around 3,000 sq. ft. and can accommodate up to 52 guests.

Founded in 1978 in Japan, CoCo Ichibanya is known as one of the world’s largest Japanese curry chains. The brand is popular for its curry-and-rice dishes, offering a mix of consistency and customisation, allowing diners to personalise their meals based on taste and preference.

The launch is part of Ambience Mall Gurugram’s ongoing effort to strengthen its dining portfolio by bringing in well-known international brands. With this addition, the mall continues to expand its options, offering both everyday dining choices and unique global experiences to visitors.

Speaking on the occasion, Arjun Gehlot, Director, Ambience Group, said, “Consumer preferences today are evolving towards experiences that feel both authentic and globally relevant. CoCo Ichibanya brings a strong international identity along with an offering that is approachable and versatile. At Ambience Mall, our focus remains on curating a balanced and contemporary mix, and this addition further strengthens that direction.”

With the opening of CoCo Ichibanya, Ambience Mall Gurugram further builds its position as a destination that blends retail with curated dining and lifestyle experiences, catering to a modern and globally aware audience.

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