The battle for the next generation of beverage consumers is intensifying globally, and Southeast Asian tea and dessert brands are increasingly looking beyond their home markets for growth.
Indonesia-based Ai-CHA has officially entered India, bringing its portfolio of fruit teas, milk teas, boba beverages, ice creams, and desserts to one of the world’s fastest-growing foodservice markets. The company launched its first Indian outlet in Amar Colony, New Delhi, marking its debut in South Asia and the latest step in an aggressive international expansion strategy.
According to company announcements and industry reports, Ai-CHA currently operates more than 2,500 stores across 40 countries and plans to open over 500 outlets in India over the next three years through a franchise-led expansion model.
Founded in Indonesia in 2019 by the Lie brothers, the brand built its business around affordable tea-based beverages and ice cream offerings, positioning itself as an accessible alternative to premium café chains. Since then, it has expanded rapidly across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and other international markets.
Its menu includes products such as Ai-Milk Tea, Brown Sugar Pearl, Ai-Squash Lemonade, Sund-Ai Boba, fruit teas, coffees, hot beverages, sundaes, and ice cream offerings.
What makes the expansion particularly noteworthy is the business model.
The company plans to grow through a royalty-free franchise-owned, franchise-operated (FOFO) structure, a strategy designed to accelerate expansion while lowering entry barriers for local entrepreneurs. The model has gained traction among emerging foodservice brands looking to scale rapidly without assuming the capital burden of company-owned stores.
