In addition to running his software company, Sandeep Bansal, 35, wanted to open a restaurant. He finally hit upon the idea of home delivering sushi, a Japanese delicacy, to connoisseurs in Delhi and Gurgaon.
What inspired you to set up Sushi King?
I was looking for a business that was far removed from software as I had been working 20 hours a day to make a success of my software company, Silicon Biztech. It was my wife, Deepa, who thought of starting a food business. Having seen sushi speciality restaurants in the US prompted me to try out the concept in India.
Why home delivery?
We wanted to set up a restaurant but the possession of space was delayed. As we had already hired a chef, we wanted to start as soon as possible. Home delivery from a smaller outlet was the cheapest option. We started from a 2,000 sq ft space.
How much investment was needed?
We invested Rs 25 lakh. I put in a part of the profit we made from the software company into this venture.
Was selling sushi difficult?
We started with food trials in October 2007 and went commercial just before Christmas. The word had spread and our website was operational. During the festive season, the response was huge. Our chef helped by roping in the best raw material supplier.
How is the business doing now?
The store has been making a profit every month. Our weekend traffic is great. We are now working on building up weekday orders. It is an expensive delicacy, so one needs to be very careful in handling the orders.
How do you balance the two businesses?
As far as the software company is concerned, I have long-term agreements with most clients. I am now more focused on Sushi King.
