Neelam Singh - The Burger Company Has Hit 70+ Outlets Pan India and Now We Plan On Hitting the 100th Mark (Founder & CEO at The Burger Company)

 To minimize food waste in the food industry, I have implemented some sustainable practices such as composting, recycling, and donating excess food to local charities. 

Also, I have developed a menu in which we have to implement portion control measures to reduce food waste.

1. Tell us something about your Early days & career story.

My journey began with a passion for food. During my childhood days, my father used to make us taste unique and new food items in the cities we used to travel to, which sparked my desire to establish my own venture in the F&B industry. Growing up in Agra, a 2-tier city, I faced the challenge of finding suitable places to hang out with friends and enjoy delicious food. This experience inspired me to create an establishment that would cater to similar cities, ensuring that no one else would have to face the same difficulties.

My journey also includes another chapter that gave me great confidence in myself. While completing my MBA, I had the opportunity to set up a food stall, which provided me with valuable insight into the workings of the market. During this experience, I was responsible for handling operations and accounts on my own. I was thrilled to win the competition, which validated my capabilities and provided me with the encouragement to pursue my entrepreneurial dreams.

While on this journey I have overcome various challenges to achieve my goals, including discrimination, lack of access to funding, and balancing work and family responsibilities. I also started my business as a side hustle while working full-time jobs before transitioning to entrepreneurship full-time.

2. Why did you decide to be in the food industry?

As I mentioned earlier, my dream was to create a venture that would offer people a taste of something truly unique - a blend of all the diverse and flavorful cuisines of India. 

My passion for cooking and eagerness to experiment with new ingredients and flavors drove me to pursue a career in the F&B industry.

3. What are some of the day-to-day business challenges that you face & how do you overcome them?

Day-to-day business challenges and how to overcome them:
As a woman entrepreneur, I have faced several challenges in establishing myself in the industry. Unfortunately, there is a lack of trust and confidence in women entrepreneurs, making it more challenging to establish credibility with vendors and clients. 

Additionally, some male employees may have ego issues that can make it difficult to manage and lead a team effectively, and on a business level, I have faced a variety of challenges, such as managing finances, marketing my products, and ensuring consistent quality. To overcome these challenges, I seek advice and support from my mentors and industry experts, develop effective marketing strategies, and implement systems to monitor and improve product quality.

4. The food industry is a major contributor to wastage. How do you minimize that?

To minimize food waste in the food industry, I have implemented some sustainable practices such as composting, recycling, and donating excess food to local charities. 

Also, I have developed a menu in which we have to implement portion control measures to reduce food waste.


5. How do you leverage software & technologies for business efficiency?

As an entrepreneur in the food industry, we have leveraged software and technology to streamline operations, track inventory and sales, and manage our finances. 

Some useful tools include point-of-sale systems, inventory management software, and online ordering platforms.

6. How do you stay connected with the F&B industry, and the apps that you use to do so?

I stay connected with the F&B industry by attending industry events, joining professional organizations, and networking with other industry professionals. 

I also use social media platforms and online forums to stay up-to-date on industry trends and connect with potential customers.

7. What are your future plans? 

In the near future, our plan is to expand our product offerings and reach new locations. Our primary goal is to cover all of India, providing people across the country with access to our unique and flavorful cuisine. In addition, we are also exploring opportunities to take our business to international markets, bringing the taste of India to people around the world. 

We are committed to delivering high-quality food and excellent service, and we believe that our expansion efforts will help us to achieve even greater success in the future."

Brief Bio:

Hi! I’m Neelam, the Founder & CEO of The Burger Company, India's fastest-growing modern casual dining chain of cafes.

We aim to delight passionate American cuisine lovers, with varieties of burgers of unique and varied flavors that every Indian can relate to.

To bring this idea to fruition, I took a full-time plunge into entrepreneurship, leaving a lucrative corporate career behind.

Beginning in the year of 2018, The Burger Company has hit 70+ outlets pan India and now we plan on hitting the 100th mark by the end of the year.

I believe in manifesting my dreams and making them my realities. As a businesswoman, I am always on the go and ideas are always brimming in my mind.

Being a working mom, I feel immensely empowered to be able to fulfill both roles and I feel it comes naturally to women. We are born with a growth mindset and we just have to condition ourselves.

I hope to motivate young people who dream of making it big and trust me, if I can do it, you can too!!!

LinkedIn

Interviewed By - Aarya Gode