Raymond Andrews, Co-Founder, Biryani Blues
On this episode of The Brand Called You, we have with us a corporate professional turned Entrepreneur, Mr. Raymond Andrews. Mr. Andrews is an MBA from Symbiosis Pune. He is the Founder of Soul Foods and most recently, Biryani Blues.
Podcast
Overview
On this episode of The Brand Called You, we have with us a corporate professional turned Entrepreneur, Mr. Raymond Andrews. Mr. Andrews is an MBA from Symbiosis Pune. He has worked with renowned brands like Onida and Airtel. He has also worked in the field of insurance. He is the Founder of Soul Foods and most recently, Biryani Blues.
After finishing his education, Mr. Andrews got placed in good companies like Onida and Airtel and also worked with insurance companies. But the dream of being an Entrepreneur always pushed Mr. Andrews to start his own business. Along with his wife he started Soul Foods which he proudly mentions, “didn’t work out”.
However, Andrews believes that it was his first startup that encouraged him to start his second business in 2013, that is Biryani Blues. Biryani Blues has 37 outlets and is still expanding.
Raymond delivers best quality Biryani and other top quality products and services through this venture.
In the conversation Mr. Garg and Mr. Andrews discussed the origin of Biryani and the uniqueness of Hyderabadi Biryani. Mr. Andrews described the types of Biryanis that Biryani Blues offers. He mentioned that the food services are finalised based on preference, research and demand. They discussed the different ways in which Biryani is made and how each way is unique!
Talking about startup businesses, Mr. Andrews pointed out the common mistakes of startup entrepreneurs and shared some of his own mistakes as well.
This discussion around Biryani is definitely going to get the viewers hooked as it offers wide knowledge about startups. With Biryani Blues, Mr. Andrews has definitely won the hearts of all Biryani lovers!
Profile
From a primarily financial service background, last role was as Corporate Vice President- Strategic Initiatives of Max New York Life insurance Co. Ltd.
Have worked in varied industries from consumer durables, to Telecom and Financial services.
After passing out as an MBA marketing from Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies, Pune in 2000 Raymond Started his career with consumer durable company ONIDA as Executive Marketing. Post that he then went on to join the Telecom industry with Airtel in the product management team, in year 2001. Post this he moved to the booming insurance industry and worked across various functions of Sales, Strategy and Projects for over 12 years. His wife Aparna who he has known since college, was also in the financial services with GE Money and Citifinancial. Both oh them always dreamed of doing their own business, they were able to take the plunge only after they were financially stable (if not secure).
Aparna quit her job first and they started by launching Soul Foods a brand that did corporate catering and school lunches for a year. They soon realised that while it was tedious, the format was not making any margin. They took a call to wind up the catering setup and enthusiastically restart with something they had great conviction of “Hyderabadi Biryani”.Both of them being from Hyderabad and having grown up there knew the product had universal appeal, was a good for a easy to eat meal and the model seemed scalable
From Day one the plan was to make it India’s largest and finest QSR at par with MNC’s. In very short time span the brand managed to operate 37 successful running outlets in Delhi-NCR, Punjab and Jaipur and further planning to open new 12 more outlets in FY 2019-20
The brand has emerged out victorious in terms of delivering best quality Biryani, well within promised time and have been nominated and is the most awarded for the excellent services and the taste delivered.
Few of the award-winning moments for the Brand;
- The Times of India-Times Food Awards in the category of Best biryani Hyderabadi Restaurant last 4 years,
- The Times of India-Times Food Awards in the category of Swiggy Public Choice for Delivery and many more.
- Won Best Biryani Award (People’s Choice) in Big F Awards, last 5 years
- Won the best Mutton Biryani in Gurgaon Foodie Awards 2019
