NTI (Mohan Bhulani) : Today’s story is about the success of Goli Vada Pav, where two friends worked together on their unique idea and achieved unexpected success. Most of us, whether in India or abroad, love Indian food. Many people prefer desi snacks and fast food. The industry has many players, but serving Indian food across the country and making a name for oneself is no easy task. However, Venkatesh Iyer and Shivdas Menon created a business in this field with their unique idea. Today, their business has expanded to 100 cities.
The Birth of the Idea
Venkatesh Iyer recalls that one day, while returning from work, he saw a 40-foot tall McDonald’s banner outside the VT station. Beneath the banner was a stall selling Vada Pav. He bought the Vada Pav, and it struck him that Vada Pav and burgers are quite similar, but the former had yet to be branded like the latter. This realization sparked the idea that the Vada Pav business could achieve success.
Starting the Business
Venkatesh, inspired by this idea, invested about 30 lakhs to start his business and named it “Goli.” Mumbai is a city where Vada Pav is a beloved snack, and its taste is deeply local. The first Goli shop was opened in 2004 in Kalyan, where it found success. Venkatesh and his friend Shivdas then decided to open franchises, and in a short time, they had opened 15 outlets.
Overcoming Challenges
In the beginning, the company faced many challenges. One of the biggest problems was that Vada Pavs would spoil quickly as they couldn’t be stored for more than a day. Additionally, some employees would steal Vada Pavs. These issues made running Goli a difficult task in its early days.
Making Changes for Profit
A friend’s suggestion helped the business grow. Venkatesh and Shivdas partnered with an Indian company, Vista, which works with multiple food chains. Vista liked the concept of Goli and offered bank and partnership proposals. Through this partnership, Goli Vada Pavs began being processed through metal detectors and X-ray machines, ensuring high-quality Vada Pavs reached customers. This change increased customer trust, and Goli quickly established itself as a prominent brand and quick-service restaurant.
Expansion of Branches
Inspired by Goli Vada Pav, an industrialist from Chennai invested 21 crores in 2011, enabling the expansion of branches across the country. Today, Goli Vada Pav has branches in 100 cities across 15 states, with more than 300 outlets. The turnover of a single shop in Kalyan has reached nearly 55 crores. Venkatesh Iyer and Shivdas Menon are working hard to achieve their goal of increasing their turnover to 200 crores in the near future.
