Star Vada Pav to open 500 outlets in next five years

Tell us about your restaurant? What is the growth of Vada Pav as a segment?

We are fast food chain in QSR format and our first outlet was started 18 months back at Kolkata and today we have 20 outlets in the same city.

Vada Pav is a finger food. The basic ingredient is the potato and it is one thing which is liked by everyone. We have taken Vada Pav as the segment because it is little bit spicy. Also, not require any forks, spoon anything, so we have grab and go concept for children and office goers.

What is your product range?

There is lot of permutation and combination. We have introduced Wraps with Vada Pav. We have total 100 combinations.

Who are your target customers?

Our target customer is 15-35 years of age i.e. kids, office goers everyone.

What are the challenges you face in ordering at Kolkata?

People at Kolkata, mainly Bengali population are not aware about Vada Pao. So we have to make them understand it is like an Indian burger with Indian sauces. Also, it is not as popular cuisine as in Maharashtra. But now people have started liking the taste and therefore we have manged to open 20 stores in the same city. Now, we are also planning to go global with it.

Do you see any threat from your competitors? How do you do pricing?

I won’t say they are competitors as they complement us and we have a lot of respect for them. They are the one to whom we are thankful and all those companies who have made the product so popular. They have actually helped us and I thanked them for that and even to the ones who are coming in the near future.

We are very pocket friendly, value for money and also we kept it very economical and many people can afford it.

Do you have a plan to go online like Vada Pav.com?

Not immediately but we have planned about that.

What was your initial investment?

Our initial investment was Rs 40 lakh.

What is your target revenue?

We are looking at 100 stores in one year.

What made you start non-veg Vada Pav In india?

We have done a lot of research on non veg category before starting; we have hired a consultancy firm. We also felt there is a vacuum to enter in non veg category. We have launched first non-veg in Eden Garden at Kolkata and the response was very good.

What are your expansion plans?

Our expansion plan is 500 outlets in next five years.

What are the opportunities one can get from the franchise route?

We have taken the franchise route as it is the best way to expand. It helps me to take care of the production, while the franchisee will take care of the sales. The opportunities one can get from the franchise are the sense of pride, self-learning and standing on their leg. In this process you will have many entrepreneurs on your board and also they will take lot of interest as they have invested a lot. You can work at your own working hours and have a decent life style. Franchise model start at an amount of Rs 6.5 Lakh and with the same you also get equipments, interiors everything.

Unlock the opportunities in Vada Pav Segment at the Biggest Retail & Franchising Show on 18th and 19th October at Pragati Maidan