Coco Ichibanya (India Entry)
Overview
Coco Ichibanya, the world’s largest Japanese curry chain with over 1,400 outlets globally, entered India with its first restaurants in partnership with a leading hospitality group. Mint Hospitality Consultancy was engaged to provide end-to-end menu, kitchen, and operational consultancy to adapt the brand to the Indian market while retaining its Japanese DNA.
Challenge
- Adapting authentic Japanese curry culture to the diverse Indian palate.
- Creating a menu strategy that balances authenticity with local flavor preferences.
- Designing efficient kitchens for consistent output at scale.
- Establishing SOPs & training systems for a completely new market entry.
Solutions
Mint brought in expertise at the intersection of global cuisine & local adaptation:
- Conducted taste mapping and trials to bridge Japanese curry with Indian flavor expectations.
- Designed a menu framework balancing vegetarian/non-vegetarian options for Indian diners.
- Built kitchen layouts for high efficiency and consistency.
- Drafted detailed SOPs, checklists, and training manuals.
- Led staff training workshops to align service with brand ethos.
Results
- Smooth market launch with consistent guest experience across outlets.
- Positive guest response to the authentic-yet-approachable Japanese curry concept.
- Created a replicable model for scaling Coco Ichibanya across India.
- Strengthened brand positioning as the world’s first global curry chain now in India.