Chennai, November 13: Media and consumer-focused investment platform Bodhi Tree Systems will be investing $180 million (about ₹1,696 crore) to acquire a majority stake in Chennai’s iconic Adyar Ananda Bhavan (A2B), known for its South Indian dosa, snacks and sweets. This transaction will take the 50-year-old legacy restaurant chain’s value to reach $350 million.
Bodhi Tree Systems, led by Uday Shankar, a top executive from Reliance Hotstar, and media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s son James Murdoch aim to expand the iconic brand beyond South India. So far, it has 160 outlets in India with another 30 overseas.
Following the deal, Uday Shankar will be taking over as the chairperson of A2B as it aims to prepare the company for a potential public market listing.
“A2B has earned the trust of millions of families through its consistent and reliable quality,” Shankar said in a statement.
“We are grateful to the co-founders, K.T. Srinivasa Raja and K.T. Venkatesan, for this opportunity to partner with them to build a differentiated, professionally managed Indian food company, one that sets new standards for the sector. While A2B is a formidable brand in India, we are equally impressed by the scale and reach of its operations in Singapore, the United States, Australia, Malaysia, and the UK. We look forward to working with the team to take its authentic cuisine to a far broader global audience,” he added.
Co-founded by KT Srinivasa Raja and KT Venkatesan, Adyar Ananda Bhavan (A2B) reported sales worth ₹148.7 crore for FY2025-26, with a net profit of ₹36 crore, according to regulatory disclosures.
This is the third investment by Bodhi Tree Systems in India, after it spent $600 million for a 36% stake in Allen Career Institute. Bodhi Tree Systems has been crucial to bring together Disney and Reliance Jio’s businesses to form JioHotstar, as foreign investors continue to look for opportunities in India’s consumer market.
