A city-based restaurant chain is eyeing markets in west, north and south India, while sticking to its strategy of setting up small neighbourhood, fine-dining outlets and avoiding malls and high-street locations.
Chowman Hospitality Pvt. Ltd., owned by entrepreneur Debatitya Chowdhury, runs Chowman, which is among Kolkata’s first small-format, fine-dining Chinese restaurant chains. It has 12 outlets in the city and is eyeing entry into Mumbai, Chandigarh, Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. “We plan to add a few outlets outside Kolkata by 2021 and five more here by June,” Mr. Chowdhury said, adding that though profitable, his bank loans-backed venture had thin margins.
EMI payment
“We make each outlet pay its EMI and we have also prepaid loans,” he said, unwilling to share figures. The venture is nine years old now with 500 people on its rolls, a company spokesperson said.
“We have adopted a non-mall, non-high street profile, keeping our food affordable for the common man, while offering a fine dining cuisine and experience. A meal for two people costs about ₹700. Democratising fine dining is our credo,” he said.
