What do you get when two Kolkata boys armed with a college friendship, an insatiable love for food, and a mere Rs 30,000 decide to take a leap of faith? You get Wow! Momo, a quick-service restaurant chain that has gone from a simple momo kiosk to a sprawling food empire with over 800 outlets across India. 🚀
Started on August 29, 2008, by Sagar Daryani and Binod Homagai, both students at St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, Wow! Momo wasn’t just about selling dumplings. It was about creating an experience that would leave customers saying one thing: WOW. From their first kiosk in Kolkata to their latest revenue target of ₹650 Cr in FY25, this is their incredible story.
How It All Started: Two Friends and a Dream
Sagar and Binod had a simple goal: to turn their love for food into something bigger than themselves. Borrowing Rs 30,000 from Sagar’s dad, the duo set up their first momo stall. While Sagar handled marketing and retail operations, Binod took charge of production and quality. Together, they created a dream team.
Here’s how they turned a small business into a big name:
- Initial Struggles: From humble kiosks to managing foot traffic, their journey began with sheer determination and grit.
- Innovation at Heart: They didn’t stop at regular momos, think Cheese Momos, Butter Masala Momos, and their pièce de résistance, the Moburg (a momo-burger hybrid that’s as wild as it sounds). 🍔✨
- Teamwork FTW: The team grew with the addition of Shah Miftaur Rahman (finance) and Muralikrishnan (marketing), making Wow! Momo an unstoppable force.
What’s in a Name? Creating the “WOW” Factor
The duo wanted their brand to stand for more than just food. The idea was to create a culinary experience that left customers amazed. And so, Wow! Momo was born, a name that didn’t just promise good food but a memorable time.
If you’ve grown up in Kolkata, you know food isn’t just sustenance, it’s a whole vibe. And for Sagar and Binod, delivering that vibe with innovative dishes was the ultimate goal.
Menu Magic: From Momos to Moburgs
Wow! Momo didn’t just sell dumplings, they reinvented them. Their secret sauce? Innovation. Some highlights from their menu include:
- Cheese Momos: Because everything’s better with cheese, right?
- Butter Masala Momo: Think momos bathing in rich, spicy butter masala.
- Moburgs: A genius fusion of momos and burgers that had foodies drooling.
- Sizzler Momos: Because why not serve your dumplings on a sizzling hot plate?
From these crowd-pullers to playful experiments like Chocolate Momos, their menu became synonymous with fun food.
The Wow! China Expansion
If you thought they’d stop at momos, think again. After perfecting the art of dumplings, Wow! Momo launched its second brand, Wow! China, to redefine the much-loved Chindian cuisine (Indian-Chinese). Think Honey Potato, Chicken Wrapped Prawns, and Peppery Lemon Paneer, all designed to hit that perfect sweet-and-spicy note.
And just like Wow! Momo, Wow! China has been a hit, turning Chindian food into a gourmet experience.
Innovation + Expansion = Success
Wow! Momo’s secret sauce isn’t just in their food, it’s in how they’ve scaled their business. By 2024, they had:
- 800+ Outlets: Spread across cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and more.
- Food Trucks and Kiosks: Innovating with tech park kiosks and amusement park food trucks to reach more people.
- Centralized Kitchens: Ensuring quality and freshness by prepping at central kitchens and distributing via chilled vehicles.
This smart strategy allowed them to maintain consistency while rapidly expanding.
The Numbers Game
Let’s crunch some numbers. Wow! Momo saw:
- 14% YOY Growth: Reporting a revenue of ₹475 Cr in FY24, compared to ₹416 Cr in FY23.
- Revenue Goal of ₹650 Cr: They’re eyeing a serious leap in FY25, riding on expansion and new tech like their upcoming Wow! Eats app.
- An IPO on the Horizon: Planning to hit the ₹1,000 Cr revenue mark before going public in 2027.
Sure, they met a net loss of ₹114 Cr in FY24 due to rising expenses, but their long-term vision makes it clear, they’re playing the long game. 🏆
What’s Next for Wow! Momo?
The journey is far from over. Here’s what the future holds:
- International Expansion: Wow! Momo is eyeing markets in Southeast Asia and the GCC.
- Tech Innovations: Their upcoming food delivery app, Wow! Eats aims to make online ordering a breeze.
- IPO Dreams: Hitting the ₹1,000 Cr revenue mark is the goal before going public in 2027.
A Momo-lution in Fast Food
From a Rs 30,000 investment to a multi-brand QSR empire, Sagar and Binod’s journey is nothing short of inspirational. Their ability to blend traditional flavours with modern innovation has made Wow! Momo a beloved brand across India.
Whether it’s their quirky Moburgs, mouthwatering momos, or spicy Chindian bowls, Wow! Momo has redefined what it means to be a food entrepreneur. And with their ambitious plans, this is just the beginning.
So next time you bite into a butter masala momo or scroll past a Wow! Momo outlet, remember, you’re tasting a piece of entrepreneurial genius. 🥟✨
