Starbucks India has denied all the rumours that Dolly Chaiwala is one of its brand ambassadors. A viral meme was widely circulated that portrayed Dolly Chaiwala as the new face of Starbucks India went viral online, and it sparked rumours.
Confusion spread on social media as a result of many followers thinking the image was real.
Starbucks India Issues Clarification
Starbucks quickly addressed the viral meme with a statement on its official LinkedIn account. It clarified, “We have noted recent social media posts suggesting that TATA Starbucks has appointed an official brand ambassador. We would like to clarify that TATA Starbucks does not have any official brand ambassadors in India.”
The company firmly added, “Specifically, we have not entered into any collaboration with Dolly Chaiwala. A meme, created independently by a third party, appears to have been misconstrued as a formal campaign. TATA Starbucks is committed to communicating with accuracy and authenticity, and we value the trust of our customers and communities.” Starbucks emphasized that no partnership exists between the brand and Dolly Chaiwala.
Meme Fuels Dolly’s Rise
The meme’s origin remains unclear. It showed Dolly Chaiwala as Starbucks India’s ambassador, which instantly misled many of his fans into believing the announcement was real. As the meme rapidly spread across social media, Starbucks promptly issued a clarification.
Meanwhile, Dolly Chaiwala, a tea vendor from Nagpur, gained global attention with his unique chai-making technique that went viral online. His popularity surged even more when former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates visited India last year and met him over a cup of chai.
Starbucks India first entered the market in October 2012 through a partnership with Tata Consumer Products. Since then, it has opened over 400 stores nationwide, starting with its first location in Mumbai.
However, despite the recent viral claim, Starbucks India emphasized its continued commitment to transparent communication and confirmed it has no official brand ambassadors.