Adyar Ananda Bhavan Sells Majority Stake to Bodhi Tree for $180 Million

UPDATE - follow-up to A2B secures $180 million investment from James Murdoch, Uday Shankar-backed Bodhi Tree: Popular food chain Adyar Ananda Bhavan has sold a majority stake to Bodhi Tree Systems in a deal worth $180 million, which is more than ₹1,600 crore. An industry source stated that this transaction values the 50-year-old brand at roughly $350 million. Uday Shankar will take charge as the Chairperson of the company's new Board of Directors, while Veda Corporate Advisers worked as the exclusive financial adviser for the transaction.

Growth Plans

Vishnu Shankar from the promoter family confirmed that the capital will help the company grow into new national and international markets, with western India and Europe marked as key targets. The brand also plans to boost its retail footprint by modernising its factories located in Chennai and Bengaluru, alongside exploring a new plant for retail and export needs. Founded in the late 1970s and based in Chennai, the chain runs about 160 outlets in India and 32 overseas stores in countries like Singapore, the U.S., and Australia, while employing over 15,000 workers. This marks the third investment for Bodhi Tree, following earlier backing of ALLEN Career Institute and JioStar. Meanwhile, Junior Kuppanna Director Balachandar R. noted that legacy food brands hold massive growth potential in private equity.

Context

Private equity investments help traditional regional food brands scale up their manufacturing capacity and expand their geographical footprint into global markets. Companies often modernise supply chains and production facilities to support large-scale retail distribution and exports.