CHENNAI:
Grace Food Courts Pvt. Ltd. (GFCPL) has made a decisive move in Chennai’s competitive Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) market with the launch of its new flagship Chicking outlet at Shanti Colony, Anna Nagar, signaling a strategic shift toward consolidation-led growth in South India.
The opening marks GFCPL’s first major initiative since acquiring Master Franchise rights for the Dubai-based QSR brand across India, excluding Kerala. As part of this strategy, the company has also taken over operational control of 21 existing Chicking outlets, bringing a previously fragmented store network under a unified management and operating framework.
The inauguration was officiated by Chicking Founder and Chairman Mr. Mansoor A.K., in the presence of Anna Nagar MLA Mr. M.K. Mohan. The event highlighted India’s growing importance to the brand, which now counts the country as its largest global market. Of Chicking’s more than 450 outlets across 45 countries, over 125 are located in India.
Calling the Anna Nagar outlet a milestone rather than a routine opening, Ajay Kumar, Founding Partner and CEO of Grace Food Courts, said the launch represents a scalable model for future growth.
“This flagship reflects our focus on strong operational controls and international standards,” Kumar said. “At the same time, we’re preparing for the next phase of growth, including our entry into the vegetarian South Indian QSR space. We will be announcing our plans very soon.”
The Anna Nagar outlet serves as a proof of concept for GFCPL’s centralized operations, designed to drive consistency, efficiency, and customer experience across markets.
GFCPL has confirmed an accelerated rollout plan, with a new Chicking outlet at Gopalan Mall, Bengaluru followed by another store in Maduravoyal, Chennai, later this month.
Alongside Chicking, the group continues to scale its CoffeTea cafe and bakery concept. As part of this expansion, CoffeTea will open its first experience store at Gopalapuram, Cathedral Road, Chennai, later this month, further strengthening GFCPL’s presence in the city’s premium food and beverage segment.
