Blue Tokai, one of India’s fastest-growing direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands, is all set to debut in the Middle East through a strategic partnership with Dubai-based Ambrosia Gulf. The D2C coffee roaster will launch its first flagship café in the UAE in Q4 2025, marking its foray into the region’s rapidly growing premium coffee market.
The expansion aligns with the brand’s broader D2C expansion plans and strengthens its global presence. As part of the partnership, Ambrosia Gulf—a subsidiary of Ambrosia Foods Group, backed by private equity firm Pulsar Capital—will act as Blue Tokai’s master franchisee for the entire Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
In addition to its offline retail push, Blue Tokai plans to introduce its packaged coffee products across Middle Eastern markets via direct-to-consumer India-inspired channels, including HoReCa (hotels, restaurants, cafés) and D2C e-commerce platforms. This dual strategy reflects a robust omnichannel D2C strategy that has become core to India’s D2C business model in 2025.
“This is not just an expansion—it’s about building a regionally aligned, values-driven brand experience,” said Shivam Shahi, COO of Blue Tokai. “As one of India’s most trusted D2C food and beverage brands, we’re excited to bring our traceable, community-focused coffee to a market that truly values authenticity and craft.”With over 175 cafés in India and a growing international footprint including Japan, Blue Tokai continues to push the boundaries of Indian D2C updates. Its Middle East entry comes at a time when D2C consumer behavior in the region is shifting toward transparent sourcing, artisanal quality, and sustainable D2C brands.
According to co-founder and CEO Matt Chitranjan, “Ambrosia Gulf brings deep operational insight and understands the pulse of Middle Eastern consumers. Together, we will establish a strong D2C ecosystem India-inspired model across the GCC.”
Ambrosia Gulf is also known for managing brands like Biryani By Kilo in the GCC and launching Papa Johns in India. Commenting on the collaboration, Vish Narain, Executive Chairman of Ambrosia Gulf, said: “We’re focused on building premium D2C brands India-inspired that are rooted in customer experience, quality, and integrity—everything Blue Tokai stands for.”
The Middle East move reinforces Blue Tokai’s status among the top funded D2C brands looking to scale responsibly while retaining core brand values. While no details on new D2C funding rounds were disclosed, industry insiders speculate that further Series A/B/C funding India announcements could follow this aggressive expansion.
With international markets increasingly craving traceable, craft-led offerings, Blue Tokai’s D2C go-to-market strategy continues to set benchmarks in the D2C industry news circuit. It stands as a powerful example of Indian D2C brands tapping into global markets by blending local insights with homegrown innovation.