Mainland China eyes global push

KOLKATA: Having laid out a spread for foodies in India, Anjan Chatterjee, owner and managing director of Speciality Restaurants, now eyes a bigger bite of the global pie. The food entrepreneur is all set to open an outlet of his flagship fine-dining restaurant chain Mainland China in Doha within a month and then gradually expand its global footprint with other brands in its portfolio.
Chatterjee also plans to foray into the Asia-Pacific market. And if all goes well, the restaurant chain will then set its sights on the UK and other European countries like France.
The group currently has 115 outlets, of which 97 are restaurants and 18 confectionary stores. So far, Dhaka in Bangladesh and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania have one Mainland China and one Sigree Global Grill restaurant each. The company, which has not restricted itself to fine-dining category, plans to set up around 16 new restaurants in the 2015-2016. The group has already forayed into the casual-dining space with Café Mezzuna and Hoppipola in Pune and Mumbai, to begin with.
"My concept is to follow Indian footsteps. As much as 68% of the UAE comprises people of Indian and Asian origin and a significant number of people is a floating population there. So it is a logical extension that Mainland China is also opened here. I will open restaurants wherever there is a significantly large number of Indians. Doha is an ideal place for it," said Chatterjee.
The Kolkata-based entrepreneur believes that people living in foreign countries won't visit his restaurant just to eat out but they would also be able to relate to a restaurant with Indian roots. The idea of setting up a new restaurant in Doha came well after the first two international restaurants (in Bangladesh and Tanzania) started generating good revenue and ran successfully. "I am confident that my restaurants will be on a par with the global standards and outmatch the global players." he said.
Speciality Restaurants has had a track record of opening 10-12 outlets every year. Chatterjee believes that the group has derived enough benefit from the portfolio of its distinguished brands bolstered by a cost-effective operating support platform. "We believe that this multilayered, disciplined approach will enable us to sustain an industry leadership," added Chatterjee.