|
 What
are your other plans of expansion?
AD: Well, apart from this one mall we are looking at
another property of our existing landlord Sanjeev Batra.
We are also talking to one more gentleman. If we settle
with any one of these three options, we shall have our
hands full for a while what with the hotel project also
coming through.
Will this hotel be another Olive?
AD: No, though it would be under the Olive umbrella
it will be a new brand we want to create, and will be
a high end brand.
Looks like you are focusing more
in Delhi now. Right?
AD: Well, as I told you I believe Delhi offers the maximum
opportunities. As I have been stuck in Delhi for the
last 6 months, I have had more time to concentrate on
properties here and have been able to make progress.
I think you have your hands full!
AD: Come September and it will be a very busy time in
Delhi. Please don’t tell it to (Sabrina) my wife.
She will kill me!
And now to my favourite subject. What is the
role of wines in your restaurants?
AD: Wine sales have soared in all our restaurants during
the past few years. In Mumbai and Delhi, wine sales
are higher than all other liquor sales combined. In
Bangalore too, it would follow the same pattern but
unfortunately availability becomes an issue at times
there.
You are enjoying duty free benefits. Do you
pass them to the customer?
AD: As you know, restaurants get only limited benefits.
A dollar sale on credit card, of Rs. 25 lakhs can get
you entitlement of only Rs. 1.25 lakhs which is very
nominal.
Diva is considered number one wine destination
in Delhi as a stand alone restaurant. Do you have any
plans of snatching that spot?
AD: Olive has a different philosophy on wines. We want
a customer friendly list that can be sourced, stored
and sold properly as a team. We feel that 80 labels
are ideal for us to handle. Though the number may become
100 with new labels in transit at all times, we do not
want to exceed this limit, at this point.
What are your mark ups on wines?
AD: I’d say about 60%. There are no hard and fast
rules. For instance, a bottle costing Rs. 1200 may be
marked for sale at Rs.2000. A Rs. 2000 bottle may be
priced at Rs.3200. Higher priced wines like at Rs. 5000
may be sold at Rs. 7500 only.
But I feel your mark ups are more than 70%.
AD: Well, I would like to reach the target of 50% on
the average.
Good luck on the opening of your new Olive
Beach and the old Olive.
AD: Thanks.
For viewers who may not been familiar with Olive,
it is a casual Mediterranean fine dining restaurant
that has become the talk of the town first because for
its casual fine dining and an excellent Mediterranean
ambiance and now because the property has been sealed
by the Government ostensibly because the premises it
is situated in are not commercial as per the laws and
under Supreme Court orders remains sealed for over 6
months. The ubiquitous Mr. AD Singh is seen frequently
in his the restaurants in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore
and page 3 of dailies in at least these three cities-
editor. |
