Six restaurants in India, two in Dubai within eight months
Sudipta Dev – Mumbai
Massive Restaurants, with its three operational brands – Masala Library, Farzi Café and Made in Punjab, is in the process of getting funding for its second round of expansion, which will be pan India and across the three brands. The funding is expected to range from Rs 30 to Rs 50 crore, and the transactions will be closed within a month, informed Zorawar Kalra, founder and MD, Massive Restaurants. “Currently four restaurants are operational, with six more planned to open within the next six to eight months,” said Kalra. The next to be launched is Farzi Café in Mumbai. The Tier II locations being targeted in 2015 for Made in Punjab are cities like Chandigarh and Hyderabad. There are also plans to open both Masala Library and Farzi Café in Dubai, within eight months.
A significant achievement of the company has been over a 100 per cent RoI since beginning operations in 2013. “Looking at store level and unit economics, all our stores are running at over 100 per cent RoI,” stated Kalra. He believes that this has been the result of a culmination of many factors. “Masala Library and Farzi Café are unique concepts which people are appreciating. There is a significant percentage of repeat clientele. There is a two to three week waiting period for Masala Library in Mumbai even after a year of operation. People like innovation nowadays,” stated Kalra. He pointed out that a lot of attention is paid to details when it comes to systems and processes. All the restaurants are mystery audited at least twice a week. Also, F&B control is very tight, built on food cost and profitability. Kalra affirmed that he will be able to replicate the same success story in the new restaurants that will be launched. “Our concepts are very consumer centric, we are not overly priced and the food appeals to the palate of the Indian consumer,” he remarked.
Also in the pipeline is Mithi by Jiggs Kalra, in Mumbai and Delhi. “We have not signed any location as of yet. We are still finalising the concept and menu. By the end of March 2015 the stores will be rolled out,” stated Kalra.