Bengaluru: Loca Loka, the premium 100% agave tequila brand co-founded by Rana Daggubati, Anirudh Ravichander and Sree Harsha Vadlamudi, has officially entered Bengaluru, marking a key milestone in its India expansion strategy. Following launches in Delhi and Mumbai, the globally award-winning brand is introducing its Blanco and Reposado expressions to one of India’s most culturally vibrant and commercially mature markets.
The Bengaluru expansion reflects Loca Loka’s calibrated, market-first approach within a category undergoing structural premiumisation. While tequila remains an emerging segment in India, it is among the fastest-growing white spirits globally, driven by rising cocktail culture, growing urban affluence and a consumer shift toward craft-focused, quality-led offerings.
Bengaluru represents a strong convergence of these trends. With one of the highest per capita spends on food and beverage experiences in the country, a globally exposed professional demographic and a mature on-trade ecosystem, the city is viewed as a high-potential market for premium alcobev brands prioritising sustainable growth over short-term volume spikes.
For Rana Daggubati, Co-Founder, Loca Loka; the city carries significance beyond market metrics.
“I’ve always admired Bengaluru’s energy,” he said. “There’s a balance here that’s ambitious yet grounded, global yet deeply rooted, artisanal yet uncompromising on quality. That duality mirrors Loca Loka. We’re inspired by authentic Mexican craft, but we’re building something that resonates with the modern global consumer, including India. The city’s creative and entrepreneurial spirit aligns naturally with the brand.”
Loca Loka first launched in some of the world’s most competitive markets, earning prestigious awards and strong consumer response. The brand is currently available in key cities across the US and has expanded into Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia. Structured entries into the UK and the UAE are underway as part of a disciplined international roadmap. The next phase will focus on consolidating distribution and strengthening presence across priority regions including North America, the Middle East, Europe and select Asian hubs.
New variants are also in development, including aged expressions, limited collaborations and special editions paying homage to the artisanal legacies and craftsmanship of both India and Mexico. Since its India debut late last year, the brand has reported strong demand, with batches consistently selling out — a trajectory the founders attribute to product quality driving repeat purchases and sustained consumer interest.
“Bengaluru represents a strong alignment of consumer maturity, premium appetite, and trade sophistication,” said Sree Harsha Vadlamudi, Co-Founder & CEO, Loca Loka. “Our expansion strategy has never been about rapid geographic width. It’s about entering markets where distribution quality, pricing architecture, and consumer readiness converge. Bengaluru’s on-trade community understands agave, values craft and appreciates brand storytelling. That ecosystem makes it an ideal city for the next phase of our growth.”
Since entering India, Loca Loka has positioned itself as a founder-led, equity-backed venture rather than a celebrity-endorsed label. Its disciplined rollout strategy — prioritising selective distribution, bartender advocacy and experiential education — has helped build credibility in a category often associated with shot-led consumption rather than sipping quality and mixology versatility.
The city’s music and nightlife culture also influenced the expansion decision.
“Bengaluru has one of the most organic music communities in the country,” said Anirudh Ravichander, Co-Founder, Loca Loka. “It’s not just about large stages, but about intimate spaces where culture evolves. There’s a certain rhythm to this city that is layered, collaborative, constantly in motion. For us, tequila is as much about atmosphere as it is about the liquid itself. The way Bengaluru brings people together across art, nightlife, and ideas, makes it a natural fit for Loca Loka.”
Globally, premium tequila has been among the most dynamic spirits categories of the past decade, with premium and super-premium segments driving disproportionate value growth. In India, evolving urban consumption patterns and the rise of cocktail-forward bars are reshaping the white spirits landscape, creating room for quality-led agave brands to build long-term equity.
Loca Loka’s Bengaluru rollout will include curated trade engagements, bartender collaborations and selective on-trade placements designed to build depth over breadth. The focus remains on structured expansion, strengthening distribution quality, protecting premium positioning and investing in education-led advocacy.
The brand is currently available across leading premium hotels, bars, restaurants and retail stores in Bengaluru. It is offered in two expressions: Loca Loka Blanco, featuring bright agave notes, citrus freshness and a clean peppery finish; and Loca Loka Reposado, aged in oak barrels to deliver layered warmth and a rounded mouthfeel.
The brand also confirmed that Loca Loka Añejo will be launching soon.
