1.

LAL QILA RESTAURANT:

KARACHI: While Lal Qilas profit margins decrease at home because of rising costs of ingredients, the Karachi-based gourmet restaurant offering a variety of desi food in a 17th century, exquisite setting is heading for rapid expansion in many parts of the world in coming months. Having entertained a president, several prime ministers, politicians, former judges, European and US diplomats and famous sportsmen, the one-of-its-kind restaurant in Karachi is now aiming to capture the international market by establishing franchises all over the world, Lal Qila Director Abid Siddiq told The Express Tribune. The first foreign franchise of Lal Qila was established in Dubai a year ago. Its doing excellent business. Its doing really good compared to other businesses, Siddiq says, adding standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been documented carefully to make future franchise operations easy. Its franchise in Faisalabad has also been operational for the past six months. In addition to the forthcoming Hyderabad franchise, memoranda of understanding (MoU) have been signed with franchisees in Abu Dhabi and Bangladesh. These franchises will become operational soon. Besides, were in talks with potential franchisees in New York City and Chicago and expect to sign the MoU very soon, Siddiq says. He is upbeat about entering the Chinese market as well. Pakistanis are everywhere. You can take this business anywhere, and itll be successful. He says the Lal Qila management is trying to open at least three franchises annually for the next many years. Were heavily relying on the multimedia to expand globally, he says, adding procedures, services and practices are being recorded digitally. Who knows where we go next and what language our franchisees speak. Getting it all on camera will save us a lot of hassle. About 15 management professionals with MBA degrees and hands-on experience in restaurant business are taking care of the franchising arm of Lal Qila, says Siddiq.

Claiming that it was one of the first restaurants in the region to get the ISO 9001 certification, he says the eatery maintains a quality-control laboratory that examines each and every bit of vegetable, meat, fruit, spices and dairy product before it enters the restaurants kitchen. Unlike most restaurants in Pakistan, he says, Lal Qila uses controlled recipes or premixes to ensure that its taste is consistent.

Rising costs:
Although the Lal Qila management refused to share the profit margin on the record, it says it has shrunk considerably in the last four years. The increase in the per-person rate for a buffet dinner has not been in proportion to food inflation, according to General Manager Azher Shafi. As an example, Shafi cites the price of chicken a main ingredient in many of the 90 dishes offered every night at the Karachi restaurant which was Rs60 per kilogramme in 2007. It has increased to Rs165 per kilogramme in 2012, a hike of 175%. However, he says, the per-person rate Lal Qila charged in 2007 was Rs490, which has now been raised to Rs950 an increase of 94%. Weve been bearing the difference ourselves without passing it on to the customer. The customer cant afford it, Shafi says.

Food diplomacy:
Siddiq believes the government should use food outlets like Lal Qila, which offer Pakistani cuisine to foreign customers in a cultural and historical ambiance, to advance Pakistans interests globally. Food should be a foreign policy arm of our government. Just look at McDonalds. When it decides to establish its first franchise in a country, its the US consulate in that city that facilitates its meetings with potential franchisees. Thats because McDonalds represents not just the economic interest of Americans, but it also helps promote a certain image of the United States globally, Siddiq says, adding the foreign missions of Pakistan should be tasked with helping Pakistani businesses expand globally.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13th, 2012.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/335406/as-margins-drop-at-home-desi-restaurant-expands-overseas/

2. INTERNATIONAL MULTI GROUP OF COMPANIES:

IMGC Global IMGC is a progressive Business House operating out of Pakistan with offices all over Pakistan and in key regions of the world. IMGC started its operations in 1984 with a small dates processing factory in Sukkur. In the last 25 years IMGC has emerged as one of the largest manufacturers of edible oil in Pakistan with manufacturing units in Nowshera, Multan and Karachi. IMGC is also one of the leading providers of materials and services to governmental, non-governmental organizations, UN agencies and private development corporations for their respective projects all over the world. Besides its business activities, IMGC is also involved in a number of community development projects to share its success with the people who are in need of assistance. IMGC has grown by leaps and bounds in the last 25 years and its annual turnover is now 250 million dollars. Under the able guidance of its Chairman, Sheikh Amjad Rashid, IMGC is looking to work hard and diligently to expand and strengthen the group. IMGC is also going to expand its community development projects by partnering up with renowned local and international agencies to provide much needed services in the education and public health sectors for some of the most impoverished areas in Pakistan.

International Offices:
Afghanistan: Dubai: Jordan: Kenya: Malaysia: Singapore: Srilanka: USA:

http://www.imgc-global.com/testimonials.html

3. CHEN ONE:
As the millennium takes a turn, the free flow of information, resulting from the internet and satellite has resulted in a sweeping change in the fashion trends throughout the globe. Responding promptly to the market need, Mian Muhammad Latif, Chief Executive of Chenab Group, visualized a brand catering to such market requirements. ChenOne is a subsidiary of Chenab Limited, formally Chenab Fabrics and Processing Mills Limited. The Group is one of the largest exporters of home textile products from Pakistan. In 1997, ChenOne opened its first branch in Jinnah Super, Islamabad. This was the first store of its kind in Pakistan offering the complete range of Fashion clothing & foot wear, Bed Linen, Kitchen Accessories and Furniture. The tremendous success and acceptance of the idea reflected the maturity of our customers on one hand, and on the other hand, prompted ChenOne to open branches nationally & internationally, so nationally in Rahim Yar Khan & Islamabad (1997), Lahore (Gulberg) and Faisalabad (1998), Karachi Park Tower (1999), Rawalpindi (2001), Peshawar(2002), Abbottabad and Lahore (defence) in 2004, Multan (2005), Sialkot & Gujrat in 2006, Karachi Tariq Road (2007) , Sargodha & Bahawalpur (2009), Diplomatic Enclave Islamabad (2011), Sarena Hotel Islamabad (2011), Gujranwala (2012). Plus Internationally ChenOne opened its branches in Dubai (Jumeriah),Abu Dhabi (Marina Mall),Ajman (New Sanaya), Al-Ain (Bawadi Mall) ,KSA (Al-Thiyafa Mall Makkah and Ollaya Street Riyyadh) and simultaneously during this period. Outlets in Gujranwala,Hyderabad, Kuwait and Musqat are our near future destinations. With the target of opening 50 stores in Pakistan by 2015, ChenOne will maintain its status of being the largest chain of stores in Pakistan.