Zivame and Thirstea: Latest Franchise Expansion News from India

Two news stories from September 2026 highlight different approaches to expansion in India’s franchise sector. Intimate apparel brand Zivame has opened its first franchise store in Noida. Meanwhile, California-based drinks brand Thirstea is entering India with several franchise formats. One development strengthens an existing regional presence; the other marks a foreign brand’s entry into the Indian market.

Zivame’s First Franchise Store in Noida

According to a FranchiseTv report dated 22 September 2026, Zivame’s new store has opened at Paras One33 Mall in Noida. The report describes it as the brand’s first franchise store in the city. The opening strengthens Zivame’s presence in the National Capital Region (NCR), which encompasses Delhi and surrounding areas.

Both the location and the operating model are clear: the store is in Noida and is identified as a franchise outlet. However, the available research provides no details of its size, investment cost, franchise partner or projected sales. The opening therefore offers no basis for drawing conclusions about the brand’s cost structure or the franchise partner’s earnings.

It is also important to note that the report refers to Noida’s first franchise store. This should not be interpreted as Zivame’s first presence of any kind in the city, or its first store in the NCR. The available information confirms only that the opening at Paras One33 Mall forms part of its franchise expansion.

Thirstea Enters India with Several Formats

According to a Franchise TV Bureau report dated 25 September 2026, California-based Thirstea is bringing its drinks and café franchise model to India. The report lists bubble tea, milk tea, smoothies, slushies and rolled ice cream among its products. It also mentions several franchise formats for the brand’s entry into India.

The key difference from the Zivame story is the nature of the announcement. In Zivame’s case, there is information about an operating store and its location. For Thirstea, the available research covers its entry into India, its products and its range of franchise formats. It does not provide an address or opening date for a first Indian store.

Likewise, the available details do not specify the size, capital requirements, fees or operating terms for those formats. Offering several formats does not automatically mean that they require little investment or suit a particular type of premises. Any such comparison would require separate written details for each format.

What the Two Stories Tell Us

Taken together, these developments present two distinct situations for the franchise sector: a store that has opened at a confirmed location, and a brand entering India. Both concern expansion, but they are not at the same stage, nor is the same level of information available. That distinction should underpin any initial assessment by prospective partners.

Zivame’s report is location-specific, so follow-up questions can focus on the store model and partnership terms. Thirstea’s report centres on formats, making it useful first to establish which options are proposed for India and what requirements apply to each.

These stories do not, in themselves, provide evidence of demand, growth rates or profitability across the Indian market. The available research includes no such market data alongside either announcement. It is therefore more accurate to view them as brand-specific developments rather than a measure of the wider franchise sector’s performance.

Next Steps for Prospective Partners

Before pursuing either opportunity, it would be sensible to request written details of the initial investment, ongoing fees, premises requirements, training, supply arrangements and agreement term. These are suggested due diligence checks; the available reports do not confirm any such terms for Zivame or Thirstea.

Practical takeaway: Distinguish between news of an operating store and an announcement of market entry. If a brand interests you, obtain its official proposal first, then compare locations, costs and responsibilities before making a decision.