“Swiggy and Zomato helped my business recover post pandemic”

Surender Kevat runs a 16-year old food stall selling a traditional Bihari dish called Litti Chokha. His stall is quite famous and he has served the likes of Aamir Khan and Lalu Prasad Yadav when they had visited the city of Jamshedpur. With business growing over the years, he has opened multiple stalls in the city and aims at opening his restaurant one day. There have been a few challenges but Surender feels he is on track to achieve his goal.

Adopting Food-tech

Surender Kevat’s menu got listed in Swiggy and Zomato post lockdown. He sensed an opportunity to grow his takeaway business with people preferring to stay at home. Since July last year, his orders from food delivery apps have tripled. It has sustained even after people have started stepping out of their homes.

“Food delivery apps accelerated business recovery. People have become comfortable with ordering online and it will only grow.”

Looking Ahead

Surender wants to open his restaurant as soon as possible. He currently has 4 stalls across key locations in the city and does not feel the need for another. The partnership with food delivery platforms, he believes, will help him achieve his goal sooner. He is against the idea of taking credit for his restaurant as he feels that is not what his father would do. Their family values have taught them not to invest borrowed money in the business to chase growth.

“I want to open my restaurant soon but I would rather do it a few years later than take a loan and pay hefty interest on it.”

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