Published Nov 12, 2026 | 10:49 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 12, 2026 | 10:49 PM
The chain now employs more than 10,000 people across its outlets and has an annual turnover of ₹800 crore.
Synopsis: A majority stake in nearly 50-year-old South Indian vegetarian restaurant and sweets chain Adyar Ananda Bhavan (A2B) is being acquired by an “investment platform” co-founded by media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s son James Murdoch and JioStar Vice Chairman Uday Shankar for ₹1,600 crore. Founded in Chennai in 1979, A2B now employs more than 10,000 people across its outlets and has an annual turnover of ₹800 crore, with an overseas presence in the United States, Malaysia and Singapore.
A majority stake in the nearly 50-year-old South Indian vegetarian restaurant and sweets chain Adyar Ananda Bhavan (A2B) is being acquired by Bodhi Tree Systems, an “investment platform” co-founded by media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s son James Murdoch and JioStar Vice Chairman Uday Shankar, Reuters reported.
The acquisition is valued at ₹1,600 crore ($180 million). An industry source cited by Reuters put A2B’s valuation at approximately ₹3,100 crore ($350 million). Shankar will become chairperson of A2B’s newly constituted board.
A2B began in 1979 as Sri Ananda Bhavan in Washermanpet, Chennai, founded by K.S Thirupathi Raja and his elder son K.T Venkatesan. Raja had earlier founded Guru Sweets in Rajapalayam, Srinivasa Sweets in Sriramapuram, Bengaluru, and Sri Ananda Bhavan in Washermanpet.
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The chain opened its second outlet in Adyar in 1988. The expansion into the neighbourhood led to the addition of Adyar to the name Ananda Bhavan, giving the chain its present identity. It opened a third outlet in Purasaiwakkam in 1992.
A2B crossed ₹100 crore in turnover in 1994. By 2000, it had expanded to Puducherry and reached 20 branches in Chennai, with a total turnover of ₹150 crore.
The chain now employs more than 10,000 people across its outlets and has an annual turnover of ₹800 crore. Its overseas presence extends to the United States, Malaysia and Singapore. Its US outlets are in Herndon, Virginia; San Jose, California; Dallas and New Jersey.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
