Popular Indian vegetarian restaurant chain, Saravana Bhavan began with a small food outlet in Chennai but has more restaurants overseas, than in India. The restaurant chain is now planning to enter in to the hospitality sector.
This expansion can take place only when the chain strengthens its international presence further and introduces its pure vegetarian south Indian fare in China. P. Rajagopal, the founder of the restaurant chain said, “We have an urge to open a star hotel shortly”.
The 66-year-old media shy founder spoke to an English publication for the first time recently. The founder has already started to obtain land in Chennai for a 100-150 rooms hotel, but did not share much information about the upcoming project. For Rajagopal, this is going to be the biggest diversification. The founder had started his career with a grocery store.
The Saravana Bhavan restaurant chain has managed to make its mark wherever it has set up shop, this is something very few Indian eateries have managed to do, while multinational food chains like KFC and McDonalds have perfected the method years back. The restaurants expansion plans did not slow down even when Rajagopal was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Madras High Court for murder. Rajagopal’s two sons are now overlooking the family business.
