 What
are your other plans of expansion?
AD: Well, apart from this one mall we are looking at another property
of our existing landlord Sanjeev Batra. We are also talking to
one more gentleman. If we settle with any one of these three options,
we shall have our hands full for a while what with the hotel project
also coming through.
Will this hotel be another Olive?
AD: No, though it would be under the Olive umbrella it will be
a new brand we want to create, and will be a high end brand.
Looks like you are focusing more in Delhi now. Right?
AD: Well, as I told you I believe Delhi offers the maximum opportunities.
As I have been stuck in Delhi for the last 6 months, I have had
more time to concentrate on properties here and have been able
to make progress.
I think you have your hands full!
AD: Come September and it will be a very busy time in Delhi. Please
don’t tell it to (Sabrina) my wife. She will kill me!
And now to my favourite subject. What is the role of
wines in your restaurants?
AD: Wine sales have soared in all our restaurants during the past
few years. In Mumbai and Delhi, wine sales are higher than all
other liquor sales combined. In Bangalore too, it would follow
the same pattern but unfortunately availability becomes an issue
at times there.
You are enjoying duty free benefits. Do you pass them
to the customer?
AD: As you know, restaurants get only limited benefits. A dollar
sale on credit card, of Rs. 25 lakhs can get you entitlement of
only Rs. 1.25 lakhs which is very nominal.
Diva is considered number one wine destination in Delhi
as a stand alone restaurant. Do you have any plans of snatching
that spot?
AD: Olive has a different philosophy on wines. We want a customer
friendly list that can be sourced, stored and sold properly as
a team. We feel that 80 labels are ideal for us to handle. Though
the number may become 100 with new labels in transit at all times,
we do not want to exceed this limit, at this point.
What are your mark ups on wines?
AD: I’d say about 60%. There are no hard and fast rules.
For instance, a bottle costing Rs. 1200 may be marked for sale
at Rs.2000. A Rs. 2000 bottle may be priced at Rs.3200. Higher
priced wines like at Rs. 5000 may be sold at Rs. 7500 only.
But I feel your mark ups are more than 70%.
AD: Well, I would like to reach the target of 50% on the average.
Good luck on the opening of your new Olive Beach and
the old Olive.
AD: Thanks.
For viewers who may not been familiar with Olive, it is a
casual Mediterranean fine dining restaurant that has become the
talk of the town first because for its casual fine dining and
an excellent Mediterranean ambiance and now because the property
has been sealed by the Government ostensibly because the premises
it is situated in are not commercial as per the laws and under
Supreme Court orders remains sealed for over 6 months. The ubiquitous
Mr. AD Singh is seen frequently in his the restaurants in Delhi,
Mumbai and Bangalore and page 3 of dailies in at least these three
cities- editor.
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