Spencer's Retail Ltd has tied with the US-based Au Bon Pain to start a chain of bakery cafes in India. This joint venture will be known as Novel Confectioners Ltd. According to sources, the first outlet will be opened in the Bangalore by the year end.

Later on 100 such standalone stores of average size 1,500 sq ft would be opened in Tier I and Tier II cities in South India with 18 months.

 RPG Enterprises Vice-Chairman Sanjiv Goenka said Rs 50 crore will be invested to set up a back-end factory in Bangalore and standalone stores in first two year.

But the distribution of shares regarding this joint venture is still not clear. He added that Bangalore offers an excellent platform with its global population.

These outlets will offer include soups, sandwiches, salads, stews and bakery items. After Bangalore ,the company will focus on Hyderabad and Chennai. Later on it may open its outlets in northern, eastern and western parts of India.Mr. Narula is confident that Au Bon Pain would soon become “India’s finest bakery café”.