Welcome to another exciting episode of Magazine St. Kitchen Presents: Speak Greasy with your host, Gauri Devidayal. In this episode, we sit down with the incredible Riyaaz Amlani, Founder and CEO of Impresario Entertainment Hospitality. With over two decades of experience, Riyaaz is a legend in the Indian F&B industry, responsible for iconic brands like Mocha, Social, Smoke House Deli, and Salt Water Café. He’s also a former president of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) and a highly respected figure for anyone aspiring to enter the hospitality business.

The conversation kicks off with Riyaaz sharing the origins of Mocha, a groundbreaking café concept he launched in 2001, which introduced India to a more relaxed, youth-centric café culture. Riyaaz discusses how Mocha became a hit by offering a laid-back atmosphere where people could hang out for hours, breaking the traditional model of quick dining. The journey from Mocha to the birth of Social in 2014 is equally fascinating. Designed as a multi-functional space for work and play, Social caters to Gen Z and millennials, offering a seamless experience between a co-working hub by day and a high-energy bar by night.

Riyaaz also shares his insights on creating spaces that speak to an audience’s needs, how Social grew into a pan-India brand with plans to open ten outlets per year, and the importance of staying connected to your community. They also delve into the challenges of managing a growing F&B empire, hiring top-tier talent, and balancing business growth with the costs of running such a dynamic operation.

If you’re looking to understand the business of restaurants in India, this episode is packed with takeaways on navigating the complexities of the F&B industry, surviving competition, raising investments, and building brands that resonate with today’s ever-evolving consumers.

Tune in now to learn from one of the most influential food and beverage industry figures!