Man loses job, now makes Dh2.48m selling vada-pav

In every crisis lies an opportunity - Sujay Sohani pounced on it at the right time and with the right spirit.

The 2007 global financial crisis robbed him of his job, but the young man rose like a phoenix from the ashes. He started a vada-pav stall in London with his friend Subodh Joshi and today their business rakes in approximately Dh2.5 million (Rs4.4 crore/5,00,000 pounds) annually.     

Sohani was a food and beverage manager at one of London's five-star hotel. In 2009, he had to bear the brunt of global recession. Lost and devastated, he shared his disappointment with Joshi, who was in Mumbai. They both had studied in Mumbai's Rizvi College.

The two toyed with the idea of selling vada-pav in London. Joshi came down to the UK capital and both tried out plans to sell the Indian street food, a report in Ananda Bazar Patrika reveals.

It was not a cakewalk for the duo, though. They approached a Polish ice-cream parlour owner to rent them enough space for a stall, reports Huffington Post. The parlour owner nodded, but charged a huge sum as rent (Rs35,000 per month in 2010). Despite the high rental, the duo was confident about their business and braved the risk.

Initially, they sold vada-pav and dabeli. The duo even distributed free vada-pavs to every passer-by.  It took time for the business to become popular. But when it did, the duo moved their shop to Hounslow High Street, which was more spacious. Here, they opened Shree Krishna Vada Pav on August 15, 2010.

Today, they have one more branch in Harrow. There are nearly 60 varieties of vada-pav on their menu now, and also paani puri, ragda pattice, kachoris and samosa. Not to forget, poha and sabudana khichdi - as weekend specials.

Tough times don't last, tough people do.It is the resolute spirit of Sohani and Joshi that won the battle for them.

Source: Khaleej Times