Ghai Enterprises Launches Veg-Only ODC

Bhisham Mansukhani - Mumbai

Mumbai based Ghai Enterprises recently launched a vegetarian-only outdoor catering (ODC) unit christened Satvik Outdoors to increase its share of the outdoor catering market in association with Mayfair Hospitality. Satvik, however, will focus holistically on vegetarian food with the objective of tapping communities that are particular about vegetarian food. Ghai Enterprises has also opened its latest restaurant as part of the Intercontinental food & beverage portfolio, the Italian fine diner, Corleone. Mayfair Rooms & Outdoors CEO Deepak Bassi said the launch of Satvik was a direct recognition of these communities as a market that had not been so far recognised as a niche. "Satvik will offer holistically vegetarian food, both traditional Indian as well as international cuisine with a contemporary service concept. Satvik Outdoors will have a seperate kitchen. Satvik is in a way symbolic of how keenly we've been listening to our clients. That is how this idea came about.

This form of catering has existed but without any intentional positioning or styling. Says Bassi, "The traditional chefs with a rural background and indigenous experience have so far been driving this market and a lack of sophistication has in a way restricted their growth in an urban environment."

In the future, Ghai Group will be looking to launch Satvik Halls. According to Bassi, care has been taken to ensure it is not mistaken as a sub-brand of Mayfair, rather a strict parallel under the aegis of Ghai Enterprise. "We will be looking to ramp up operations with a central and satellite kitchens within the city and once Mumbai is consolidated, Satvik will be taken to more cities within 18 months. The concept of Satvik Halls would be stylish and modern, in keeping with the overall concept.