Mirah Hospitality Group, which operates restaurant chain ‘Rajdhani,’ plans to open 13 outlets across the country by the end of this fiscal at an estimated outlay of Rs 25 crore. Rajdhani is a ‘thali-only’ vegetarian restaurant chain serving traditional Gujrati and Rajasthani food. Apart from Rajdhani, the group also owns other restaurant brands such as Manchester United (sports bar and pub), Cafee Mangii (a fine dining Italian restaurant chain), Falafels (a Lebanese quick service chain) and Ping Pong. It also operates the Citrus Hotel brand.
“We have plans to open 13 new Rajdhani outlets across the country by the end of this fiscal. Two of these will be in Kolkata, while we are on the look out in other parts of the country,” Aji Nair, Vice-President – food and beverage division, Mirah Hospitality, told Business Line . The new outlets will come up across the country including parts of North India and eastern India. The restaurant chain has a strong presence in South India, with nearly 17 of its existing 37 outlets located in the southern cities of Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Coimbatore.
Apart from south, the eatery’s outlets are located in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and in Tier-II cities like Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, Indore, Shirdi, Pune, Bhopal, Nasik and Baroda.
Nair, however, ruled out a franchise model for the restaurant chain and would continue with the company-owned outlet format.
“It is difficult to maintain a steady quality once you opt for the franchise models,” he added.
According to him, Rajdhani is eyeing a turnover of nearly Rs 75 crore this fiscal, compared to the Rs 50 crore of business that it did last fiscal (2011-12).
Overseas foray
Rajdhani is also firming up plans to foray overseas. Plans are afoot to start operations in Singapore by March 2013 at an estimated investment of nearly Rs 3 crore.
Dubai is another probable destination where it intends to foray sometime next fiscal (2013-14). It already has a presence in Oman.