New Delhi, 11 March 2025:– Secret Ingredient, India’s leading food consulting firm for the restaurant and hospitality industry, has announced a strategic partnership with the Dalmia Gold Tea Group to expand their popular Pekoe Café brand 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.
Secret Ingredient will lead the expansion effort, leveraging its expertise in restaurant concept development and operational strategy. The firm’s comprehensive approach will ensure that each new Pekoe outlet maintains brand consistency while adapting to local preferences.
Nikita Dalmia, Co-Founder, Pekoe Cafe said, “Pekoe, is a vibrant celebration of India’s love for Chai Tapri and street food culture, reimagined with a touch of sophistication. We are on a mission to popularise Indian-Tapri culture along with quality teas from the House of Dalmia Gold, in a more contemporary and refined setting. Going forward, we see it as a unique proposition in the Indian café market and we wanted someone who understands this differentiated concept while enhancing the brand value. Therefore the Secret Ingredient team looks like an ideal fit to take its growth across India”.
Complemented by a diverse menu featuring Indian snacks that pair perfectly with their tea offerings. Pekoe Café stands out with its quirky interiors designed for comfort, creating an inviting atmosphere for customers. Despite offering an extraordinary experience, the café maintains budget-friendly pricing, making it accessible to a wide range of tea enthusiasts.
Kula Naidu, Director of Secret Ingredient, stated, “We have partnered with the Dalmia Gold Tea Group 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 culture.”
Sid Mathur, Director at Secret Ingredient, added, “Pekoe has already captured the hearts of tea enthusiasts in Patna and Siliguri. As we expand, we’re committed to delivering a seamless and elevated experience that will delight customers across India.”
The expansion plan targets multiple cities across India, building upon Pekoe’s current locations in Patna and Siliguri. Secret Ingredient has outlined a phased rollout over the next year, focusing on key areas to ensure success. These include comprehensive market research and strategic location selection, creating inviting interior designs and ambiances that reflect the Pekoe brand, developing and localising menus to cater to regional tastes, and implementing rigorous staff training programs to maintain operational excellence across all new outlets.
Specialising in solutions for both new and existing restaurants, Secret Ingredient also extends advisory services to hotels, malls, and schools. The firm’s unique perspective stems from years of hands-on experience in the F&B industry, including operating restaurants and delivery outlets across India and advising some of the biggest names in the food industry.
Notable projects in their portfolio include: The Khyber at Gulmarg, Kaansa at Crowne Plaza Gurgaon, Lyrah at Trident Gurgaon, Koyo Koyo at Hyatt Centric Chandigarh, Select City Walk Mall in South Delhi, British School in Delhi, Olive Group, Swiggy, Anardana, and in Delhi – Bomba, Qavalli, Chica, Ditas, among several others across major locations.