Q. WHAT made you enter the food and beverage business?

A. A vast country like India has big opportunity and business in food and beverage. We have gone a step ahead with the opening of food courts in a few places. We are evolving into a full scale food chain and our food offering will also focus on 360 degrees expansion from canteens in screens, food courts in theatrical centres, high street restaurants, institutional catering etc.

Q. Are you planning to open more food courts?

A. Yes, we will first concentrate in the operations at Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and NCR areas. Delhi is a pivotal market for us. Later, we will expand to other parts of India.

Q. What were your investments in launching the food courts in Faridabad and Kerala? What is your total investment in opening food court in Delhi?

A. In every food court we need to invest around Rs 1 crore to Rs 1.5 crore. Over the next year, we will be investing nearly Rs 100 crore in this business. We imagine that this will contribute close to 25 per cent of our top-line.

Q. Do you think franchising could be a better option both in terms of brand promotion and ultimate profit?

A. Yes, franchising is one of the best options because we need to grow fast. Food business requires branding and processing. But more than everything else the business requires involvement and commitment of people. Creativity of the owner comes out when the brand is made out for franchising and sees the customers’ demands and satisfactions.

Our plan is to make around 50 Brahmin’s Kitchens (totally vegetarian), which would serve as a focal point. Then we will take the franchise route.

Q. Are you looking at this business in a multiple format or food court style only? Is there any concept to grow as a single format?

A. Presently, we are opening the food courts having multiple brands like Apple Tree, Augrita, Red Curry, Beverage & More, Shivalay, Tahaal and Brahmin’s Kitchen (an initiative to bring traditional Brahmin food in the modern format). Then we will give even the single brand for franchising.

Q. Are you at a point looking to franchise model expansion?

A. Right now we don’t have any franchise model. But, we will create a model with a big financial commitment from the other side.

Q. Today many Indian QSRs are going oversees. Do you have any plans to follow the same route as you already have your parent company recognised internationally?

A. We have our own status in Malaysia, Singapore, United States, England and China. Initially, we will first introduce Indian food in those countries. That would bring the popularity and give the local taste. Then we will surely franchise out the brands.

Q. Please share the achievement of Pyramid Saimira Group in the International market.

 A. We are mainly in the entertainment business. In the next year we will produce around 60 films. We distribute around 100 Indian films all over the world every year. We also produce TV contents and have a DTH channel. We even run a radio station in the US and atheatre in China.