California Burrito Reaches $23 Million Revenue With 103 India Outlets
Updated
Updated · Mint · Jun 10
California Burrito Reaches $23 Million Revenue With 103 India Outlets
2 articles · Updated · Mint · Jun 10
Summary
$23 million in 2024 revenue and 103 outlets mark California Burrito’s rise into one of India’s largest burrito chains, founded by American entrepreneur Bert Mueller after a 2010 study-abroad trip.
A host family’s strong response to a classmate’s Mexican-inspired food convinced Mueller to return to India after graduating and launch the chain in Bengaluru in 2012 with two childhood friends.
$250,000 from friends and family funded the first outlet, which generated about $500,000 in its first year and helped finance two more stores as the brand expanded to Chennai, Hyderabad and Delhi.
Early growth was tested by an operations hire Mueller accused of colluding with vendors, overcharging suppliers and trying to start a rival burrito business.
California Burrito now invests in its own supply chain—including multiple chicken suppliers and hundreds of avocado trees—despite setbacks such as elephant damage and extreme rainfall hitting crops.