Michelin-starred chef Vikas Khanna has made a strategic investment in New York-based beverage company Kolkata Chai Co., marking the first investment by Bungalow Hospitality Investments, a newly launched food and hospitality platform co-founded by Khanna and restaurateur Jimmy Rizvi. The partnership combines financial backing with a commercial collaboration aimed at expanding the reach of authentic Indian chai in the United States.
Founded in 2019 by siblings Ani Sanyal and Ayan Sanyal, Kolkata Chai Co. was established with the goal of introducing traditional Indian chai to a wider American audience. Since its launch, the company has grown from a local café concept into a broader consumer brand, operating café locations across New York City and selling chai blends, concentrates and related products through direct-to-consumer channels as well as national retail outlets.
The investment comes through Bungalow Hospitality Investments, which Khanna and Rizvi recently established as a platform dedicated to mentoring, partnering with and investing in emerging food and hospitality ventures. According to the companies, Kolkata Chai Co. is the platform’s inaugural investment and was selected because of Khanna’s personal connection with chai and his belief in the brand’s focus on authenticity, craftsmanship and cultural storytelling.
The agreement extends beyond capital infusion. As part of the partnership, Kolkata Chai’s products will be integrated across Bungalow Hospitality Management’s restaurant portfolio in New York City. Beginning this summer, the company’s signature Masala Chai will be served at prominent restaurant brands including GupShup and the upcoming Punjab Meet House. The partners also plan to launch a series of limited-edition menu collaborations later this year.
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The move reflects the growing popularity of South Asian food and beverage brands in the US, where consumer interest in Indian flavours and cultural experiences has increased significantly over the past few years. Industry observers have noted a rise in South Asian restaurant openings as well as increased shelf space for South Asian packaged food and beverage products across mainstream retail channels.
Kolkata Chai has also attracted support from notable personalities in recent years. In 2024, Emmy Award-winning comedian and actor Hasan Minhaj joined the company as an investor and business partner. The company said Minhaj’s involvement helped expand the brand’s reach through media, content and cultural storytelling initiatives.
Speaking about Khanna’s investment, Minhaj described the celebrated chef as a pioneer who helped take Indian cuisine to a global audience. He said Khanna’s decision to join Kolkata Chai represented a significant milestone for the company and its ambitions in the US market.
Khanna is among the most recognised ambassadors of Indian cuisine internationally, having built a reputation through his Michelin-starred restaurant work, television appearances and culinary initiatives. Through Bungalow Hospitality Investments, he and Rizvi are seeking to support the next generation of food and hospitality businesses that can bring authentic South Asian flavours to broader audiences.
For Kolkata Chai Co., the partnership provides both strategic capital and access to an established hospitality ecosystem. For Bungalow Hospitality Investments, it represents the first step in building a portfolio focused on emerging food and beverage brands that blend cultural authenticity with commercial potential in the American market.
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