Arun Chanda, Founder
The business world might appear buttoned-down from the outside - but in reality, it's a lot more interesting than one can think of. Justifying this is team Mint, a passionate bunch of highly experienced hotel who believe in constantly innovating and creating ways to discover easy solutions for all possible F&B related issues. Mint Hotels & Restaurants Consultancy offers a diverse range of services related to Food & Beverage. The services range from concept development, location feasibility, CAPEX & OPEX Sheets, Menu, Interiors, Sourcing & Supply Chain Set Up, Branding, HR Services, SOPs & Training to lunch support & post launch hand holding. “Anyone who wants to explore any kind of business in F&B space can come to us whether it’s a start-up restaurant or an existing business who wants to revamp. Depending on the budget and the background, we help them come up with F&B concept which is viable to their scenario, location & target segment and also cost-efficient,” says Arun Chanda, Founder.
The company gives immense importance to the training aspect which results in a good product, services & back-end processes, without which a business cannot succeed. “So even after the launch of the restaurant, we offer them a hand holding period and mentor the promoter/s and train his/her team to a certain level required for the brand. We believe no business can succeed without a good team,” he mentions.
The Ideation of Mint
After passing out from IHM Bhubaneswar in 1993, Arun worked for almost 17 years in the mainstream hospitality industry as a Chef. This was the time when he learnt different cuisines, working under renowned chefs, both Indian and expats. He took equal interest in F&B Service department and simultaneously worked to expand his knowledge in management systems & procedures. In 2007-2008, India was hit by the Global recession and the hospitality industry suffered a major setback. The company Arun was working with at that time also decided to shut down its operations in Delhi and other cities like Bangalore, Pune & Ahmedabad. It took Arun almost three months to help his previous company with shutting down and later he decided to zero in upon establishing his own consulting firm. “Just the fact that I was lucky enough to get exposed to the varied nature of this business in different business formats in different geographical locations. Plus, seeing the restaurant industry growing in café & QSR space, I thought it’s a good time and space for me to do multiple things at the same time and creating new concepts and successful business models. And that’s how ‘Mint’ was born,” explicates Arun.
"In terms of business, Mint has grown in the tier two cities in the past five years"
Arun took a while to acquire the first break in the business of consulting and it was in November 2009 that opportunity knocked his door for changing a menu of a renowned Australian café & pub. This marked the beginning of a great success story! “From then till this date, we have grown to a great family of 15 professionals and doing business PAN India, in the US & Europe,’ he informs.
The Brighter Side
In terms of business, Mint has grown in the tier two cities in the past five years. The company has received repeat business from many of its existing clients and referrals from its clients and that has been its best reward. “As the hospitality industry is growing, Mint as a company is growing and evolving too. We are diversifying into other hospitality projects under the umbrella of Mint.We are strengthening our team and moving with time,” he concludes.