RIL set to partner Emporio Armani to open restaurants

After building India’s largest retail chain, Reliance Industries is now entering the restaurant business with a Michelin-star Armani eatery.

Reliance will spearhead its food business in a tie-up with Milan-based luxury company Emporio Armani, according to two people familiar with the plan. The petroleum-to-telecommunications conglomerate plans to open the first Emporio Armani restaurant in its upcoming luxury mall in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex, according to one person.

Mumbai will be the latest city where the Michelin-star Armani opens its restaurant, after Paris, Milan, New York, Tokyo, Munich and Dubai, among other cities.

Reliance is building a mega-commercial complex in BKC called Jio World Centre, which will house an international convention centre, hotels, two shopping centres including a luxury mall, a performing arts theatre, a rooftop drive-in movie theatre and commercial offices. The luxury mall will open next year, a Reliance official familiar with the plans said.

Reliance declined to comment on the Armani restaurant plan and directed ET to an Armani spokesperson.

“We are never the spokesperson as Reliance/India operator and always want our brand partners to be the face of the brand in India,” a Reliance spokesperson said in an email.

An Armani spokesperson in Italy declined to comment.

Reliance is already a master franchisee of Armani, operating Emporio Armani, Giorgio Armani and Armani Exchange branded outlets in India.

Since opening its first restaurant in Paris in 1998, Armani currently operates 20 restaurants around the world, according to the company’s website.

The Armani restaurant will be the latest addition to the partnership between Reliance and the Italian luxury giant. ET had reported in May that Reliance Brands had signed up Armani’s sportswear brand EA7. The company is looking to roll out the first EA7 outlet in New Delhi’s Select CityWalk Mall in March.