Newstrack

Baklava House gears up for expansion

To establish 25 outlets on franchise model by year end

Sanjeev Bhar - New Delhi

Indo-Australian joint venture Baklava House Foods is set to expand in India's western and eastern region through the franchise model. Speaking to Express Hospitality, Vikas Marwaha, its managing director informed that baklava sweets based on Middle Eastern concept, which is popular even in Australia, is not yet available in India.

"We therefore decided to bring this concept to India through 25 franchise outlets by the year end," he says. The company has already established five outlets in the Delhi NCR along with its franchisee Candy Treats.

Its Australian counterpart Sydney-based Lexus Foods will extend its expertise on the product to Baklava House Foods. "We have got an executive chef from Australia who heads the entire manufacturing process of the sweetmeats," Marwaha remarks. Lexus Foods is responsible for supporting the company with know-how, recipes, quality control, ingredients sourcing, machinery, labour, technology and other technical and non-technical features.

Although the source of funds was not revealed, Marwaha revealed that some of the outlets would be owned by the company. "We will award franchise to those who are into the business of selling desserts from gelatos to chocolates and have a good presence in malls, etc. We are in talks with some in Mumbai and Pune where we expect to establish 15 outlets apart from our interests in Kolkata," he says.

The company is initiating an aggressive marketing strategy to reach agencies like five-star hotels, bakery shops and railway catering agencies.

"We also want to make our brand available to airport catering and are working on a deal with a known brand for making baklava available on flights," he says. Baklava House Foods has a manufacturing unit in Delhi from where it will transport its products to other cities owing to the product's long shelf life. As per plans, it is also expected to launch chocolates and cookies.