Keventers on a new milky way

Keventers, a brand name synonymous with milkshake in India, has made a comeback and how! Ever since its reemergence in New Delhi in 2015, the company has expanded its network to 100 outlets, with the latest one finding its home in Bengaluru.

In an interaction with DH, Keventers Partner and COO Aman Arora said, “Bengaluru already has five outlets. The sixth one will be the country’s 100th outlet. It is a significant launch because the city has become the best performing market in the country for us.” 

“Brand acceptance in Bengaluru has been high owing to the cosmopolitan culture here. Spending habits and the zeal for experience here, have worked well for the brand. In fact, Bengaluru achieved returns on investment in the first four months itself,” said Sohrab Sitaram, CEO and Director of Keventers. Encouraged by consumer response, the company plans extensive expansion in South India. “We intend to set up more outlets in Bengaluru and Chennai. While the climatic conditions in these cities are supportive, consumer reponse has alse been overwhelming,” said Sitaram.

By 2018, the company plans to set up 200 outlets across the globe. While it has already set foot in Nepal, expansion into Dubai and Sharjah is underway, and African markets including Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya are also in the pipeline. “The plan is to set up 25 outlets across Dubai and Sharjah in the next one year. Further, the launch in Nairobi will happen within a month, and other African markets will follow,” said Arora.

The company is waiting on USFDA approvals to enter the US market, where it will venture through its franchise model. “As per plans, we should be getting approvals in the next two to three months, and then the setting up of outlets will take two months. So, we will launch in San Francisco by this year end,” said Sitaram.
 
While the global expansion strategy is set to catapult Keventers’ revenues multi-fold this year, the company witnessed robust growth in FY2016-17 at Rs 29 crore compared with Rs 4 crore in FY2015-16.

Arora attributes the success of the brand to its simplicity. “Across outlets, we offer a humble menu of approximately 24 milkshake options. Some five classic flavours and some new ones to appeal to generation Y. It is based on quality and presentation that the brand has become aspirational across demographies,” he said.

The company is set to launch its ice cream brand this year, which will come with its own unique identity. Keventers also aspires to venture into milk distribution this year, starting from Delhi.