Bungalow Hospitality Investments, co-founded by Michelin-starred chef Vikas Khanna, and New York-born chai brand Kolkata Chai enter into a partnership (Image/PTI)
NEW DELHI: Kolkata Chai, the New York–born chai brand that helped introduce authentic Indian chai to large US audiences, announced a strategic partnership and investment with Bungalow Hospitality Investments, the newly formed venture co‑founded by Michelin‑starred chef Vikas Khanna and restaurateur Jimmy Rizvi.The deal, announced Monday, includes a financial investment in Kolkata Chai and an exclusive menu integration across Bungalow Hospitality Management’s New York City restaurant portfolio. Beginning this summer, Kolkata Chai’s signature Masala Chai will be rolled out at the group’s current and upcoming restaurants, including GupShup and the forthcoming Punjab Meet House. The partnership will also produce a series of limited‑time collaborative menu items this fall.Kolkata Chai was founded in 2019 by brothers Ayan and Ani Sanyal and has grown through a multi‑unit café model and a line of consumer packaged goods (CPG) chai blends. In 2024, actor and comedian Hasan Minhaj joined the company as an investor and business partner, helping expand the brand’s visibility through media and cultural storytelling.Bungalow Hospitality Investments, led by Khanna and Rizvi, focuses on investing in and partnering with emerging food and hospitality brands. Kolkata Chai is the group’s inaugural investment; Khanna cited a personal connection to chai and longstanding admiration for the brand’s craft and authenticity as factors in the decision.“Chef Vikas Khanna is a pioneer for Indian cuisine on a global stage, and having him join the Kolkata Chai family is a genuinely exciting moment for us,” said Hasan Minhaj in a statement. He added that the partnership reflects Kolkata Chai’s role in connecting people across generations and cultures.The announcement comes amid growing mainstream interest in South Asian food and beverage in the United States, driven by restaurant openings and a rising number of South Asian CPG brands. Kolkata Chai and Bungalow Foods, a CPG line co‑founded by Khanna and Rizvi, have both positioned themselves as leaders within that expanding market.
