Passion and hard work can transform dreams into reality, a truth exemplified by the Nahar brothers- Anand and Amrit Nahar. Hailing from a humble middle-class family in Surat, these brothers created ZORKO, a Rs 100 crore brand, with an initial investment of just Rs 50,000. Discover how their passion for food led them to carve out a new path, propelling ZORKO to become one of India's fastest-growing food brands.

Background

Both Anand and Amrit come from engineering backgrounds, Anand holds a BTech in Automobile Engineering, while Amrit has a BE in Environmental Engineering. After completing their studies, the brothers entered the stock market. In 2016, Anand began working as a freelance business development executive at a brokerage firm, and Amrit joined him later. However, they soon realised that the stock market was not their true calling. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that they stumbled upon an idea that would change their lives forever.

The beginnings

The 2020 pandemic not only altered the world but also became a turning point for the Nahar brothers. During the lockdown, as they were confined to their homes, Anand and Amrit began to take their cooking hobby more seriously. They experimented with new dishes and shared their creations on social media. What started as a pastime quickly evolved into a passion. The overwhelming response they received online prompted them to consider transforming their culinary enthusiasm into a full-fledged business.

Food startup

In 2021, Anand and Amrit took a bold step by acquiring a closed restaurant in Surat, covering 550 square feet. With an initial investment of Rs 50,000, they developed a unique concept centred around offering affordable yet high-quality food. Their vision was simple: by providing excellent food at reasonable prices, paired with flavours that kept customers coming back, they could build a thriving business. Their first restaurant quickly became an instant hit, offering popular menu items like hot coffee, jumbo burgers, cheese burst pizza, and momo cheese bite pizza.

Business success

The Nahar brothers effectively leveraged social media to promote their brand. They encouraged customers to tag the restaurant in their posts, offering a 20% discount on their next order as an incentive. This strategy not only helped build strong brand recognition but also significantly expanded their customer base. In fact, within the very first month, their restaurant generated a revenue of Rs 3 lakh.

Building on the success of their first outlet, the Nahar brothers adopted a franchise model, which allowed them to expand rapidly and establish a presence in cities across India. Today, ZORKO boasts over 250 outlets in more than 42 cities. This approach also proved to be a boon for small entrepreneurs, offering them an opportunity to build a successful business with minimal investment.