Moti Mahal Delux opens franchise restaurant in Shimla

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July 16, 2010

Ravinder Makhaik

Shimla: On an expansion drive, Moti Mahal Delux announced opening of franchise restaurant with Bridge View Regency, on The Mall here today.

Speaking on the occasion Ashim Gujaral, executive director of privately held chain of restaurants, said that food outlets were facing competition in the Indian market but their unique cuisines, were not in direct competition with McDonald’s and other fast food outlets as they mainly catered Indian curry tastes centered around lunch and dinner.

Where as in large cities, the chain had opened specialty restaurants that served either Indian, Chinese and continental, or coastal foods, but in small cities, a multi cuisine menu was catered to.

With the Shimla opening, the Rs 300 crore Moti Mahal chain has established 75 restaurants in Indian and 4 abroad, which are one each in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai and London.

Mukesh Mahlotra, managing director of Bridge View said on the occasion, besides the Shimla restaurant they were seeking out opportunities for opening restaurants in Manali and Dharamshala, under the popular franchise.

Among the famous customers that have had a meal at Moti Mahal eatery, the chain counts India’s first prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru, former American president Richard Nixon, former Pakistan prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto among others who have eaten at the Daryaganj outlet in Delhi.

Starting out from Peshawar in 1920, Moti Mahal established its first eatery at Daryaganj after Independence. From a popular Dhaba, the group has expanded and hopes to increase the number of outlets to over 100 in the next few years.