Could Chai be the future of the UK drinks industry?
Can you remember when you first tried Chai? No, let me ask you a better question: can you remember when you first tried a really good coffee?
It seems like a really bizarre question, doesn’t it? After all, who hasn’t tried coffee? It’s such a big part of our lives, and even small high streets can boast at least 3 or 4 really good coffee shops with a dozen different varieties to choose from.
But it hasn’t always been this way.
You may or may not be old enough to remember, but back in the 1990s there was almost no choice at all. If you wanted a coffee, there was usually just one option on most menus and it was usually cheap and bland. When brands like Starbucks first arrived in 1998, they caused a real sensation. Who knew coffee could taste this good?!?
How niche goes mainstream
Add in all the lifestyle elements that went with these new coffee outlets following American sitcoms like Friends, and a there was an explosion in popularity. In just a few years, the entire landscape of British cafes had changed, and coffee became huge, huge business.
Of course, coffee is about so much more than just the drink itself, now. There’s a whole culture around it. Meeting up for a coffee is a mainstream event in most people’s lives, but they are also interested in the coffee’s story. Customers like to know where their blend comes from, its tradition and history, and most have their favourite origin.
The same thing is just starting to happen with Chai
At Mi Chaii, that history and culture is also not something which just sprang up overnight. The blend is based on the original recipe that the founder’s father brought over in the 1960’s. Just like most of the other menu items available, new variations and modern versions have since been created, but the chai itself remains as exciting and as authentic as ever.
It’s not just a drink – it has a personality, a character all its own, and it is this that distinctiveness that bridges the gap in customers’ minds between just another high street offering and something which can, and has, become a part of their lifestyle.
A report by Tetley in 2019 showed that chai has increased in popularity among its customers by 93% since 2014, and this will only have grown since. Following the pandemic, customers crave experience more than ever and, with its sweet, spicy and aromatic flavours, chai from Mi Chaii is a real feast for all the senses.
A Mi Chaii franchise is your chance to tap into this booming demand just as it is about to go sky high. With total vertical integration in their supplies from their own production facility in Bradford, you can also be sure of always being able to serve consistently great chai, and great food, without worrying about where the next batch will come from.
Interested in being part of the chai revolution?
Then why don’t we have a chat? I am always happy to take you through how a Mi Chaii restaurant would work in your area.
You can schedule a call with me any time using the button below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
Michael Hulmes
Mi Chaii Franchise Consultant