FDI On The Menu

Capital View

Rabindra Seth

A significant development for the Indian hospitality and tourism sector, the international players will bring in a large dose of foreign direct investment (FDI) within the next 60 months or so. Take for instance, Planet Hollywood International through its franchisee Arch Millennium will invest close to USD 15 million in five restaurants in India

In the less than five years since the turn of the century, Delhi and the adjoining areas constituting the National Capital Region (NCR), have seen the growth of scores of stand-alone eateries. Among them are fine dining or specialty restaurants offering popular international cuisine viz Chinese, Thai, Mexican, Italian, Mediterranean, along with our desi variants like south Indian, Punjabi, Mughlai, Awadhi, Tandoori and so on.

A few distinguish themselves as theme restaurants offering experiences such as eating in the ‘environs’ of a cruise ship or with add-ons like lounge bars. Foreign brands that have so far surfaced in this country are limited to fast food outlets like McDonald, Domino’s, Pizza Hut or the little more classy TGIF. The promoters have come from different backgrounds: NRIs, hospitality executives, mainly chefs or F&B managers branching out on their own, young entrepreneurs with overseas exposure or experience and the regulars of the industry.

Of the new happenings on the restaurant scene two developments stand out. One is the announcement, widely reported, that Planet Hollywood is making a foray into India initially with five restaurants with a huge foreign direct investment (FDI). The other, a modest effort in comparison, is an NRI venture to replicate in India the successful model of a successful Raj nostalgia restaurant in London, called the Sahib’s.

Located in the affluent neighbourhood of Northwood in the British capital, Sahib’s was established in 1998. One of the two partners, Mohan Berry, with a Kenya connection, launched Sahib’s in Gurgaon’s DLF Mega Mall just a few weeks ago. With nearly 250 covers and spread over 10,000 square feet area it is certainly among the biggest restaurants if not the biggest. It has several novel features combining food, wine music and ambience.

Ideal for families, the huge restaurant has four lounges. A massive bar with up to 18 stools. When in full swing Berry promises that the bar will have 1,000 varieties of wines. The food fare ranges from chilli wings, tandoori lamb chops, king prawns to chilli paneer and tadka dal besides a dash of Continental cuisine. The interiors reflect the Raj era but with modern amenities like plasma screens amongst others. Sahib’s message for the hospitality industry is its classy kitchen and staff concerns. Waiters not only have designer uniforms but also their own lockers, showers and washrooms.

While Mohan Berry and his partner Harmeet Suri have given Delhi a refined-in-London version of an Indian eatery, the impending arrival of Planet Hollywood chain marks the infusion of an international touch of class to the eating out experience. Claiming it to be the world’s most famous theme restaurant, Planet Hollywood promoters include Hollywood stars such as Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Demi Moore.

What is significant for our tourism sector is the large dose of foreign direct investment (FDI) within the next 60 months or so. Planet Hollywood International through its franchisee Arch Millennium will invest close to USD 15 million in five restaurants in India beginning with Mumbai (early next year) to Delhi, Bangalore, Goa and Hyderabad.

Arch Millennium CEO, Siddharth Mobar told newspersons in the capital that, ‘In line with the restaurant’s name, we will bring stars like Bruce Willis and Silvester Stallone’. Planet Hollywood’s founder-president, Robert Earl was quoted as saying that, ’In time, Bollywood stars will also get involved in Planet Hollywood to enhance the ‘entertainment’ experience. We will bring in the excitement of Hollywood and combine it with the power of Bollywood in a very special way’, he said.

Globally, Planet Hollywood restaurants offer dishes named after Hollywood stars and Mobar said that some of the special dishes that will be on offer in India will include ‘Chicken Crunch’ based on a Demi Moore recipe and ‘Banana Struddle’ from a recipe of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s mother. The interiors will reflect various movie genres including action, horror, clips, music videos and celebrity visits.

A guest at an Indian Planet Hollywood restaurant, for instance, will be able to see what is happening in other locations like New York, Las Vegas or Paris. There are some 30 Planet Hollywood restaurants across the US, Europe, and in cities like Dubai, Hong Kong and Beijing.

Planet Hollywood is also making a foray into hoteliering and casino business. A property it has acquired in Las Vegas will be commissioned after renovations next year as the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. It will have 2,500 rooms, 110,000 square feet of casino and 7,000 seat theatre for concerts. The tourism industry will surely offer a warm welcome to Planet Hollywood.

(The author is a freelance columnist and can be contacted at rabseth@yahoo.com)