US popular bakery Cheesecake Factory makes India debut with first store in Bengaluru

Renowned for offering more than 30 indulgent cheesecake flavours, the brand’s flagship Indian store has opened at Phoenix Mall of Asia.

The launch marks the beginning of an ambitious expansion plan across the country.

Many Indian consumers are already familiar with the brand thanks to its pop-culture presence in the hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory, where a fictionalised version of the restaurant frequently featured as the group’s favourite hangout and where the character Penny worked as a waitress.

Partnering for India

The India foray has been led by Bengaluru-based The Gourmet Cake Company (TGC), which has partnered with The Cheesecake Factory Bakery to bring the American favourite to Indian consumers.

The company plans to open three to six additional outlets in Bengaluru  this year before expanding to other cities nationwide.

Masthan Adam, founder and CEO of TGC, told Business Standard that India’s dessert market, estimated at around $30 billion, presents enormous potential.

“India is a serious market for us. The fact that we have launched a first-of-its-kind eggless cheesecake shows the level of commitment,” he said.

Why Bengaluru?

According to Adam, Bengaluru was chosen as the launch city due to its tech-savvy population, high disposable incomes, global exposure and early adoption of premium food and lifestyle brands.

The Cheesecake Factory Bakery will also be available on multiple quick-commerce platforms across the city in the coming weeks.

Over the next three to five years, TGC plans to open around 55 outlets across India.

The rollout will largely follow a QSR and kiosk-style model, with store sizes ranging from 800 to 1,200 square feet. These outlets will be strategically located in malls, airports, high streets and delivery-focused neighbourhoods.

Each metro city is expected to host six to ten premium stores, while select Tier-II cities — including Chandigarh, Coimbatore, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram — are also on the expansion map.

First-ever eggless cheesecake

In a significant localisation effort, the brand has developed its first-ever eggless cheesecake specifically for the Indian market.

Adam said the product was the outcome of a structured research and development process rather than a simple recipe tweak, highlighting the brand’s long-term focus on Indian preferences.

The average price of a cheesecake slice starts at around Rs 500, positioning it slightly above many premium bakeries where slices typically range between Rs 380 and Rs 480.

TGC plans to invest close to $60 million (approximately Rs 550 crore) over the next five years in store expansion, supply chain development, brand-building and digital infrastructure.

The company aims to achieve a valuation of $75–100 million (Rs 620–830 crore) within the same period.

Beyond rapid scaling, Adam said the goal is to establish The Cheesecake Factory Bakery as India’s go-to premium cheesecake destination, both online and offline — filling a long-standing gap in the organised dessert market.