Three O’Clock Opens Its Tenth Store as Coffee Brands Expand in India

The latest expansion news from India’s tea and coffee brands includes openings from Bhilai to Kolkata and Gurugram. Vietnam’s Three O’Clock has opened its tenth store in Bhilai, while Barista’s network has reached 555 cafés. Meanwhile, Libertario has opened its second Indian location, and Caffe Nero has announced its entry into the Indian market through a partnership with Trent Limited.

Three O’Clock Opens Its Tenth Store in Bhilai

According to information published by Franchise TV on 4 November 2026, Vietnamese tea and coffee chain Three O’Clock has opened its tenth store in Bhilai, in the state of Chhattisgarh. The brand has expanded in India through a master franchise partnership with Franchise India (FranGlobal). For the franchise community, the key point is the explicit partnership underpinning this latest opening.

The Bhilai store is reported to be trading, rather than being a location announced for the future. The tenth-store milestone should therefore be distinguished from a future expansion target. This news marks an actual increase in the brand’s presence; it should not be used to infer the number or timing of further openings.

The announcement does not, in itself, establish investment requirements, fees or operating terms for a new local partner. For prospective partners interested in Three O’Clock, understanding the master franchise relationship is a first step; reviewing the contract and financial details for a proposed store is a separate process.

Barista in Kolkata, Libertario in Gurugram

Barista Coffee has expanded its retail network to 555 cafés with a new outlet in Salt Lake, Kolkata. This figure refers to the brand’s overall network. It should not be read as a count of 555 franchised cafés, as the expansion update does not specify the ownership or operating model of every café.

Meanwhile, Colombian speciality coffee brand Libertario Coffee Co and Roasters has opened a new flagship outlet in Gurugram. Located at DLF Summit Plaza on Golf Course Road, it opened to customers on 3 November. This is the company’s second location in India.

Libertario made its Indian debut in July 2025 in Greater Kailash 2, New Delhi. The Gurugram outlet therefore follows its entry into Delhi. Both locations are in the National Capital Region, but this second opening should not automatically be taken as a nationwide franchise offering. Opening a new outlet and making franchises available to outside investors are separate matters.

Caffe Nero’s Partnership with Trent

European premium coffeehouse brand Caffe Nero has entered the Indian market through a partnership with Trent Limited. The first outlet under the partnership is planned for Mumbai. Further openings are also planned alongside Trent’s existing retail formats.

This news differs from the recent Three O’Clock, Barista and Libertario openings in one important respect: Caffe Nero’s first Mumbai outlet is still planned. The partnership announcement should therefore not be confused with the opening of its first café.

Similarly, the partnership with Trent does not mean that Caffe Nero has announced a franchise programme open to independent investors. For readers in the franchise community, the relevant facts are the arrival of a new brand in India and its announced expansion partnership, rather than the availability of individual franchise applications.

What These Different Announcements Mean for Investors

These updates reflect different stages of expansion: Three O’Clock’s tenth store, Barista’s network of 555 cafés, Libertario’s second Indian location and Caffe Nero’s planned first outlet in Mumbai. Rather than comparing these figures and plans directly, it is more useful to consider the context of each announcement.

A large brand network is not evidence of local demand, rental costs or likely returns on investment. Equally, the existence of a master franchise partnership does not confirm that opportunities are available in every city. Prospective partners should request written details of the entity granting the rights, location availability, total investment and operating responsibilities.

Practical takeaway: Treat news of a new store as an initial signal to explore an opportunity. Before making a payment or commitment, establish whether the offer is a genuine franchise opportunity, which entity is offering it and what your contractual responsibilities would be.