INDIA. Premium confectionery retailer CocoCart is strengthening its brand mix across Mumbai’s airport network, with Bateel, Le Pain Quotidien and Vapiano set to introduce café and dining formats in the coming months.
As reported, Belgian chocolatier Neuhaus has made its standalone boutique debut in India, opening its first location at Navi Mumbai International Airport in July, followed by a second at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Terminal 2’s domestic departures zone.
Founded in Brussels in 1857, Neuhaus is widely credited with inventing the praline.
Italian chocolatier Venchi also joined the Navi Mumbai Airport line-up in May, serving its signature chocolates and gelato.
Saudi Arabian brand Bateel, founded in 1991, will add its signature premium dates, gourmet products and luxury gifting to the portfolio, complemented by Bateel El’an, its contemporary café concept.
Established in Brussels in 1990, Le Pain Quotidien will introduce its bakery heritage in Indian travel retail to offer simple, fresh and authentic food.
Founded in Hamburg in 2002, Vapiano adds its contemporary Italian dining format, combining fresh handmade pasta with an open kitchen and made-to-order dishes.
CocoCart Co-Founder Karan Ahuja said: “This is not a series of individual launches. It’s a portfolio with real intent behind it – five brands, each with its own century-old craft or singular point of view, all coming together within Mumbai’s airport ecosystem as the starting point for something much larger in India.
“The airport is where that platform meets its ideal audience. Today’s Indian traveller is well-travelled, discerning and unwilling to compromise on quality – and that is exactly the guest these five brands were built for.”
The additions extend CocoCart’s offer beyond confectionery and gifting into café, bakery and dining.
The move reflects the growing role of food & beverage in the airport experience, with travellers seeking greater choice and quality alongside convenience, while CocoCart sees airports as a key channel for introducing established international concepts to Indian travellers.
The portfolio is built around a mix of established brands rather than a single retail or F&B format, with each concept retaining its own global identity, the retailer noted.
The roll-out forms part of CocoCart’s wider expansion plans for India, with the company looking to add more international F&B brands across airports and other premium locations. ✈
