JOIN USRestaurant and pub operator Holy Cow Hospitality is eyeing expansion, and plans to take its bars pan-India.
The young firm is looking at pushing its popular American-style gastropub PlanB to new cities in India, even as it seeks newer markets for its other ‘watering hole’ brands.
Talking to Deccan Herald, Holy Cow Hospitality Co-founder Sundeep Nayak said, “We want to get into new markets this year... PlanB, which is one of our popular chains, began its journey in Bengaluru, where we run two outlets, besides one in Chennai. Now, we are eyeing markets such as Hyderabad, Kolkata, Delhi, and Mumbai, to set up PlanB gastropubs, may be in the next 25 months.”
Bengaluru-based Holy Cow Hospitality embarked on its gastronomical trail in 2010, when Nayak, along with childhood friend Thashvin Muckatira, opened the first PlanB at Castle Street, Bengaluru, with a seed capital of Rs 80 lakh.
“In 2010, very few pubs sold good food. The emphasis was on the gastropub concept — a communion between good food and drink. The idea was to focus on meats and cheeses, and serve good ol’ American favourites. In 2012, we opened the second PlanB, again in Bengaluru, and the latest one came up in Chennai,” Co-founder Muckatira said.
Meanwhile, the company came out with other brands — Mother Cluckers Bar, and One Night in Bangkok. While both have one outlet each in Bengaluru, the former serves global bar food, while the latter is set as a complete Thai-style bar. In all, the company has invested around Rs 9 crore, through internal funding, and from the business.
Talking about near-term expansion plans for this year, Nayak said, “In this financial year, we are eyeing Mumbai and Hyderabad. We are scouting different options. Depending on the location, we will decide which of our chains will be best suited where. We are seeking funding in the form of either individual outlet mode, or investment into the company to raise valuation.”
Holy Cow Hospitality garnered revenues of Rs 19 crore in the last fiscal year, and is currently looking at doubling the same to around Rs 30 crore this year.