Is the Momo business actually recession-proof? Thinking of starting a hyper-scalable, aesthetic cart model. Need advice.
Hey folks, I’ve been doing a deep dive into the F&B space, specifically street food and Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs). I have a few specific questions about consumer behavior and scaling a brand from scratch.
1. Is the Momo business completely discretionary? During inflation and global crises, budgets tighten. Technically, eating out is discretionary. But do people actually avoid cheap street food like momos during high inflation, or do they flock to it because it’s a cheap comfort food?
2. The "Wow! Momo" Paradox Wow! Momo started over a decade ago. They recently crossed ₹500 Cr in revenue, but they are still posting massive net losses. Were they ever profitable in their early days? Is it actually feasible to build a massive, highly profitable business only around momos, the way McDonald's, Burger King, or Domino's did with their core products?
3. Surviving the Restaurant Trap I know the traditional restaurant business is notoriously risky. I want to avoid that entirely. What if I build a traditional street stall, but make it highly brandable and hygienic? Is a "branded cart" model easily expandable? Also, the biggest F&B headache is attrition—how do I actually hire and retain good people for a street-level stall?
4. The "Under ₹1.5 Lakh" Aesthetic Cart Idea I want to start a stall for under ₹1 Lakh to ₹1.5 Lakh max, running on 1-2 staff. But I want to add serious aesthetic value—like a beautiful traditional chatri (umbrella), some artificial grass, and natural seating (like bamboo stools), just to make it Instagrammable and premium. Has anyone tried this? What are some crazy but practical ideas to replicate this setup fast without getting chased away by the municipality?
Would love to hear from anyone running food carts, cloud kitchens, or QSRs!
*Used AI for Enhancement