Jumbo Vada Pav to grab a bite of Gujarat

Having established a chain of 30 fast food stores in Mumbai, Jumbo King, the Vada Pav retail chain is now entering newer markets, in Gujarat and Maharashtra.

The company, which operates through the franchisee route is in talks with major fuel retail chains to set up Vada Pav outlets at petrol stations. It would also negotiate with the road transport corporation in Mumbai and Gujarat to set up its stores at important junctions.

"Jumbo King, through its partners, is looking at 100 stores in Mumbai and 25 stores in Gujarat within the next 12 months," said Dheeraj Gupta, MD, Jumbo King.

The company is also looking at queries from the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and major multiplexes in Mumbai. For the outlets in Gujarat, the company plans to bring in the vadas, balls of spicy mashed potatoes from its kitchen in

Malad in Mumbai through road at -18 degrees preservation coolers which, Gupta says will ensure there is no spoilage. The bread would be procured locally.

It is targeting students and executives in the state and therefore would be setting up its units through franchisees near call centres, colleges, railway stations and other places frequented by people below 35.

"Jumbo King presently sources 60 tonnes of potatoes every month along with large quantities of wheat and flour therefore we are looking at the commodities market in a major way in the coming few years," added Gupta.