Business profits over a chit chat

Chit Chat, the mini food court by Kapish Food Courts Pvt Ltd. was launched with an idea to create an ethnic fast food chain offering an innovative mix of fast food products. Sanjay Bhandari, Director, Kapish Food Courts Pvt Ltd talks to Ekta Sharma Verma about the brand’s concept and opportunities offered.

Brief us about the foundation and concept of your brand.

I am a chartered accountant by qualification and worked for media companies for a long time so, creating my own brand was an untold dream. Once I attended a seminar of Santosh Nair (Nair on Fire) on entrepreneurship and that experience pushed me real hard to give shape to my dream. It all started with launching a brand called 'idli Vidli' in 2009, which was on the concept of a kiosk in multiplex, concept serving varieties of flavoured mini idlis in pop corn style. We made it spread to ten multiplexes in Mumbai but the operational and logistic issues forced us to rethink on the overall model. Since Idli Vidli was product restrictive, we changed it to Chit Chat, the mini food court. The concept is quite simple and it revolves around having quick bites with friends and family giving wide choice of products ranging from grills to rolls to pasta and juices as well.

What kind of franchise opportunity are you offering?

At present we are offering only unit franchise opportunity. However, the franchisee can opt to add more stores or go for territory specific master franchise once he/she gains enough experience in running the first store.

What kind of training and support do you offer for your franchisees?

Presently, we are providing on the job training at company owned stores in Mumbai to the kitchen staff hired by the franchisee. In near future, we will also provide onsite training support to the kitchen staff.

What all parameters do you follow before opening your outlet at a particular location?

Our target is youth. Therefore, proximity to colleges or commercial centres is an ideal choice. Since we work with reasonably lower prices, keeping overheads under control is of utmost importance so; we try on balancing the rental vis a vis location.

Kindly share the brand’s further expansion plans in India and other countries?

We have total five outlets. Out of which three are franchisee run and two are company owned. Currently, the brand carries presence in Maharashtra and Gujarat. Our fifth store will be opening soon in Ahmedabad. Rajasthan is already our phase I target market but our high priority is Gujarat as I see a lot of potential there.

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