The Hindu Business Line : Hard Rock Café to enter India; first outlet in Mumbai by Sept

THE country's food and entertainment retail business is set to rock, literally. The $426 million Hard Rock Café, an influential premium brand with rock n' roll sensibility at its core, is foraying into India with its first outlet slated to come up in Mumbai, in September this year.

Informed sources said Hard Rock, part of The Rank Group Plc, a UK-based gaming and entertainment major, has signed exclusive franchisee agreement with two Indian entrepreneurs - Mr Jai Singh and Mr Sanjay Mehtani - who have considerable exposure in the domestic entertainment and food space. When contacted, Mr Singh offered no comments. The two partners had earlier become FTV's franchisee to start F Bar & Lounge in Bangalore and Delhi.

Hard Rock International manages about 115 cafes - 65 of which are owned — across 41 countries. Started by two Americans, Mr Isaac Tigrett and Mr Peter Morton, it opened the first café in London in the early 70s, celebrating the rock n' roll spirit. Hard Rock Café, which became part of The Rank Group in 1990, extended the brand into hotels and casinos. Meanwhile, Hard Rock's café chain business has tested new markets in Asia and Latin America in recent years.

"We are making a fashion statement with the arrival of Hard Rock Café in India. It is a brand that believes God is in the details and maintains high quality service at all times. It is not about coffee, it's about music, fine-dining and entertainment," said Mr Harish Bijoor, noted brand expert. Its memorabilia collection, which consists of more than 60,000 pieces that are rotated from restaurant to restaurant, is considered as the world's most comprehensive "visual history" of rock 'n' roll, and has prompted observers to describe the brand as a "cultural force."

Hard Rock also derives significant revenue as an accessory retailer. Its merchandise, like T-shirts, lighters, shot glasses and music related products, is city-specific and has reached many markets across the world years before the brand actually set foot there.

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