That child was only 3 years old. At this age, he left home and reached the ‘city of dreams’ Mumbai. There was no money in the pocket. And I was not able to understand what to do. Needed bread for two meals. In such a situation, I got work in a restaurant to earn my living. The work of washing dirty utensils. Had to wash utensils for a month and got only Rs 18.
Hardly anyone would have thought then that this same child would later establish a big restaurant brand of South Indian food. This is the story of Jairam Banan, the founder of Sagar Ratna, who was called ‘Dosa King’ and the ‘Sagar Ratna’ restaurant started by him is today a big name not only in the country but also abroad.
You might be wondering why we are discussing Sagar Ratna Restaurant today. Actually, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has invited the MPs of ‘INDIA’ alliance for lunch today. The time is around 1:30 pm and the place is – Sagar Ratna Restaurant, Janpath, Delhi. It is believed that after the protest against the Chief Election Commissioner on Tuesday, further strategy can be discussed during lunch.
However, we thought that on this pretext, we should tell you the story of the success of Sagar Ratna Restaurant as well as its days of struggle. So then, let’s start from the beginning.
Left home at the age of 13
Born in Udupi, Karnataka, Jayaram Banan failed in a class during his studies. He was afraid of being beaten by his father. Due to this fear, he left home at the age of 13 and reached Mumbai.
He got a job in an acquaintance’s restaurant in Mumbai. Since I was young, I started by cleaning utensils. In return he got only Rs 18 every month.
He worked like this for about six years. But Banan did not make this job just a means of earning. He started understanding the working of the restaurant closely.
Gradually responsibilities increased. From an employee who cleaned utensils, he became a waiter and then reached the manager. With this his salary also increased and reached around Rs 200 per month.
Learned business skills on the job
After working in restaurants for many years, Jairam Banan decided to start his own business. He reached Delhi and first took charge of the canteen.
After this, he started his own restaurant named ‘Sagar’ in Defense Colony, South Delhi.
Here he paid special attention to the quality of food, cleanliness and customer trust. As the business increased, after some time a second outlet named ‘Sagar Ratna’ was started.
From here his small business started transforming into a big restaurant brand.
Franchise model changed the pace
Sagar Ratna started expanding rapidly through the franchise model in the late 1990s.
This brand, which started from Delhi, reached many states including Noida, Punjab, Karnataka, Assam and Jammu and Kashmir. Its outlets also opened at prominent places like Connaught Place and Hotel Ashok.
Sagar Ratna’s presence reached religious places like Vaishno Devi. That means the brand did not just focus on big cities, but made its place in different types of markets.
The taste of dosa reached abroad again
The expansion of Sagar Ratna was not limited to India. The first international outlet opened in Singapore in 2005. After this the brand reached other markets including Bangkok.
The man who had once cleaned utensils in a restaurant for Rs 18 a month, the South Indian flavor of his business had now reached beyond the country’s borders.
175+ outlets worldwide
The most special thing about Jairam Banan’s story is his beginning. He did not start the business from any big business family or with big capital.
His first step was a job of Rs 18 and some utensils. While working in the restaurant, he learned the nuances of business, then used the same experience in his business.
Today Sagar Ratna has more than 100 outlets in India and abroad. In many reports their number has been said to be more than 175. In the year 2022, Jayaram Banan was also given the Kannada Rajyotsava Award.
The journey that started with washing utensils reached the identity of ‘Dosa King’. The biggest lesson of his story is that the beginning of business can be small, but if there is a big effort to learn, work hard and move forward, then the same small beginning can later become the foundation of a big brand.
Source: ndtv.in
