News

Indian fast casual Chutney Joes to franchise

July 29, 2010

Chutney Joe’s has announced today the official launch of its franchise program. The announcement reflects the restaurant's local consumer appeal and global market potential.

According to founder Vijay Puniani, Chutney Joe's offers customers a whole new way to enjoy fresh, home-style Indian cuisine in an atmosphere lightly modeled after Chipotle and Panda Express.

"We're very proud to announce the national debut of our exciting new brand," Puniani said. "Chutney Joe’s redefines the Indian food dining experience as we know it by offering guests incredibly healthy and delicious menu choices in a contemporary and inviting atmosphere.”

Chutney Joe’s supports its franchisees with a unique cooking system, training, marketing, real estate, architecture and other aspects of franchise development. The Indian diner offers a combination of health-conscious fares, traditional flavors and affordable prices with a footprint of about 1,500 to 2,000 square feet for in-line and less than 700 square feet for food court stores.

The idea behind launching a fast casual Indian food restaurant was developed by Puniani and his son Aatish. Their goal: To bring a piece of their culture to average “Joes” everywhere and improve the quality of food and speed of service found in other Indian restaurants.

“Chutney Joe’s is about an experience in dining that few others can recreate," Puniani said. "Our desire is to outdo ourselves creatively by appealing to our guests with an array of dishes in a clean and contemporary atmosphere. We know our brand will resonate very well with customers worldwide looking for a new way to enjoy traditional Indian cuisine.”

Since opening its doors, the restaurant has received significant local and national attention, including Fortune Magazine, which noted Chutney Joe’s “homegrown foreign flavors” in an article about innovative exotic food concepts. In 2009, Business Week highlighted the restaurant as one of “America’s Most Promising Startups.”

Chutney Joe’s serves lunch and dinner with an average ticket sale of less than $10 per person. Stores will be able to accommodate front-of-house seating, patio dining, drive-through windows, and a number of other build-out options, depending on the local community and available site.