Nirula's
Encyclopedia
Nirula's is India
's oldest fast food
restaurant chain, based in North India
and most popular in NCR
Delhi
. It started Delhi's first fast food
restaurant in Connaught Place
in 1977, today it has over 75 outlets in NCR Delhi, Punjab, Haryana
, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh
states, which includes family-style restaurants "Nirula's" specializing in "Desi
version" of western fast food
as well as offering Indian cuisine
, casual dining "Potpourri restaurants", Pastry Shops and Ice cream parlours, and two hotels in Noida and Panipat.
Nirula's Corner House Private Limited was acquired in June 2006, by Malaysia-based private equity fund, Navis Capital Partners with its Managing Director, Samir Kuckreja.
(CP) in 1934, by "Nirula Brothers", LC Nirula and M Nirula, it had 12 rooms, a restaurant and a bar. In the 1950s, they started a 'Chinese Room' Restaurant, Delhi's oldest Chinese restaurant at the premises. In 1940, it started running the Indian Coffee House for Indian Coffee Board at Janpath
introducing espresso coffee, which became an instant success. Soon it launched two speciality restaurants- La Boheme serving Hungarian food; and Gufa, an Indian restaurant.
The 70s saw the Nirula's venture into the fast food
business with the opening of Delhi's first fast food
restaurant in 1977 here, to which was later added a Pastry Shop, Snack Bar, Hot Shoppe and an Ice Cream Parlour. A subsequently addition was the waiter-served first "The Potpourri" restaurant also adjacent, by the time it had become a CP landmark, offering people western fast food
like burgers, pizzas and foot longs, plus an ice cream parlour with 21 flavours..
The coming two decades saw the company starting a Central Kitchen and Family-style restaurants at Vasant Vihar
, Chanakya cinema complex, Chanakyapuri
, Defence Colony
, Noida
and various other locations in the NCR
. And before the arrival of several MNC restaurant chains in 1990s, Nirula's remained a major draw for young people in the capital. In the subsequently years even though MNC chains like McDonald's
made inroads into its share, in 2000 it retained 40 per cent of the Delhi market. Even then, facing stiff competition from Nirula's McDonald's had to "Indianise" it menu to suit Indian palate, while on its end Nirula's added competitive pricing and sprucing up its interiors.
The group subsequently diversified into business hotels opening one at Noida and another at Panipat
, and set up food processing plants in Okhla
and Noida
, near Delhi.
Nirulas was also the first western style fast food restaurant in Kathmandu, Nepal. It had two outlets. A small one in New Road and the main large one in Durbar Marg, where currently is a KFC and a Pizza Hut on top. The popularity of Nirula's was their pizzas and ice cream. While both were already available in Kathmandu, they were offered at premium restaurants as gourmet versions and not as fast food. Nirula's started getting competition in the 1990s from local and international fast food outlets and by 1995 there was only one Nirula's left in the city. The quality also went down and it soon shut business for good. While Kathmandu is overcrowded with fast food outlets, many still reminiscence about Nirula's as the store that they first had pizza in. The most popular pizza was their Salami pizza, also their cheapest meat pizza.
In 2007, its original outlet at CP, moved to K-Block, Connaught Place, while the adjacent "Potpourri restaurant" also moved to N block, Outer Circle also in CP. Also in 2007, Nirula's opened India first ice cream museum situated at its Ice cream factory in Noida
. In the same year, the chain introduced three new outlet formats, including "Nirula's Express", Food Court Unit and Ice-Cream Kiosks, and the first Express outlet opened at the Delhi Airport.
Today it has outlets in across North India
, in places like Panipat
, Dehradun
, Jaipur
, Meerut and Pathankot
.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
's oldest fast food
Fast food restaurant
A fast food restaurant, also known as a Quick Service Restaurant or QSR within the industry itself, is a specific type of restaurant characterized both by its fast food cuisine and by minimal table service...
restaurant chain, based in North India
North India
North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat or Shumālī Hindustān , is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage...
and most popular in NCR
National Capital Region (India)
The National Capital Region in India is a name for the conurbation or metropolitan area which encompasses the entire National Capital Territory of Delhi as well as urban areas ringing it in neighbouring states of Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan...
Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
. It started Delhi's first fast food
Fast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
restaurant in Connaught Place
Connaught Place, New Delhi
Connaught Place Connaught Place Connaught Place (Hindi: कनॉट प्लेस, (officially Rajiv Chowk) is one of the largest financial, commercial and business centers in Delhi. It is often abbreviated as CP and houses the headquarters of several Indian firms. Its surroundings occupy a place of pride...
in 1977, today it has over 75 outlets in NCR Delhi, Punjab, Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
states, which includes family-style restaurants "Nirula's" specializing in "Desi
Desi
Desi or Deshi refers to the people, cultures, and products of the Indian subcontinent and, increasingly, to the people, cultures, and products of their diaspora. Desi countries include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh...
version" of western fast food
Fast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
as well as offering Indian cuisine
Indian cuisine
Indian cuisine consists of thousands of regional cuisines which date back thousands of years. The dishes of India are characterised by the extensive use of various Indian spices, herbs, vegetables and fruit. Indian cuisine is also known for the widespread practice of vegetarianism in Indian society...
, casual dining "Potpourri restaurants", Pastry Shops and Ice cream parlours, and two hotels in Noida and Panipat.
Nirula's Corner House Private Limited was acquired in June 2006, by Malaysia-based private equity fund, Navis Capital Partners with its Managing Director, Samir Kuckreja.
History
The chain traces its origins to the "Hotel India" opened at L-Block Connaught Place, New DelhiConnaught Place, New Delhi
Connaught Place Connaught Place Connaught Place (Hindi: कनॉट प्लेस, (officially Rajiv Chowk) is one of the largest financial, commercial and business centers in Delhi. It is often abbreviated as CP and houses the headquarters of several Indian firms. Its surroundings occupy a place of pride...
(CP) in 1934, by "Nirula Brothers", LC Nirula and M Nirula, it had 12 rooms, a restaurant and a bar. In the 1950s, they started a 'Chinese Room' Restaurant, Delhi's oldest Chinese restaurant at the premises. In 1940, it started running the Indian Coffee House for Indian Coffee Board at Janpath
Janpath
Janpath , translated the "People's Path", is one of the main roads in New Delhi. It starts out as Radial Road 1 in Connaught Place, adjacent to Palika Bazaar, and runs North-South perpendicular to, and past Rajpath...
introducing espresso coffee, which became an instant success. Soon it launched two speciality restaurants- La Boheme serving Hungarian food; and Gufa, an Indian restaurant.
The 70s saw the Nirula's venture into the fast food
Fast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
business with the opening of Delhi's first fast food
Fast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
restaurant in 1977 here, to which was later added a Pastry Shop, Snack Bar, Hot Shoppe and an Ice Cream Parlour. A subsequently addition was the waiter-served first "The Potpourri" restaurant also adjacent, by the time it had become a CP landmark, offering people western fast food
Fast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
like burgers, pizzas and foot longs, plus an ice cream parlour with 21 flavours..
The coming two decades saw the company starting a Central Kitchen and Family-style restaurants at Vasant Vihar
Vasant Vihar
Vasant Vihar is an up-market neighborhood located in the South West Delhi district of National Capital Territory of Delhi, which houses many diplomatic missions of foreign countries ....
, Chanakya cinema complex, Chanakyapuri
Chanakyapuri
Chanakyapuri ,is an affluent neighborhood and Diplomatic Enclave in New Delhi, established in 1950s, and located about 14 km. from Delhi Airport. Chanakyapuri, literally meaning "City of Chanakya", is named for Chanakya, a third century BC Maurya advisor and prime minister.Chanakyapuri plays...
, Defence Colony
Defence Colony
Defence Colony is a posh locality situated in South Delhi, India. Besides its central location from most parts of the city of Delhi, the locality is immensely popular among all Delhiites for the exotic varieties of cuisines that it has on offer...
, Noida
Noida
Noida , short for the New Okhla Industrial Development Area, is an area in India under the management of the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority . Noida came into administrative existence on 17 April 1976 and celebrates 17 April as "Noida Day". It was set up as part of an urbanization...
and various other locations in the NCR
National Capital Region (India)
The National Capital Region in India is a name for the conurbation or metropolitan area which encompasses the entire National Capital Territory of Delhi as well as urban areas ringing it in neighbouring states of Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan...
. And before the arrival of several MNC restaurant chains in 1990s, Nirula's remained a major draw for young people in the capital. In the subsequently years even though MNC chains like McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
made inroads into its share, in 2000 it retained 40 per cent of the Delhi market. Even then, facing stiff competition from Nirula's McDonald's had to "Indianise" it menu to suit Indian palate, while on its end Nirula's added competitive pricing and sprucing up its interiors.
The group subsequently diversified into business hotels opening one at Noida and another at Panipat
Panipat
Panipat بَنِبَت is an ancient and historic city in Panipat district, Haryana state, India. It is 90 km north from Delhi and 169 km south of Chandigarh on NH-1. The three battles fought at the city were turning points in Indian history. The city is famous in India by the name of "City of...
, and set up food processing plants in Okhla
Okhla
Okhla, is a neighbourhood around the old village in South Delhi district, though it is most known as the Okhla Industrial Area or Okhla Industrial Estate, an industrial suburb of New Delhi in South Delhi and mainly divided in three phases...
and Noida
Noida
Noida , short for the New Okhla Industrial Development Area, is an area in India under the management of the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority . Noida came into administrative existence on 17 April 1976 and celebrates 17 April as "Noida Day". It was set up as part of an urbanization...
, near Delhi.
Nirulas was also the first western style fast food restaurant in Kathmandu, Nepal. It had two outlets. A small one in New Road and the main large one in Durbar Marg, where currently is a KFC and a Pizza Hut on top. The popularity of Nirula's was their pizzas and ice cream. While both were already available in Kathmandu, they were offered at premium restaurants as gourmet versions and not as fast food. Nirula's started getting competition in the 1990s from local and international fast food outlets and by 1995 there was only one Nirula's left in the city. The quality also went down and it soon shut business for good. While Kathmandu is overcrowded with fast food outlets, many still reminiscence about Nirula's as the store that they first had pizza in. The most popular pizza was their Salami pizza, also their cheapest meat pizza.
Acquisition
Nirula's Corner House Private Limited continued to be owned by cousins Deepak and Lalit Nirula, till 2006 when it saw 100% acquisition by Samir Kukreja, Lalit's nephew and the $1 billion Malaysia-based Navis Capital Partners.In 2007, its original outlet at CP, moved to K-Block, Connaught Place, while the adjacent "Potpourri restaurant" also moved to N block, Outer Circle also in CP. Also in 2007, Nirula's opened India first ice cream museum situated at its Ice cream factory in Noida
Noida
Noida , short for the New Okhla Industrial Development Area, is an area in India under the management of the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority . Noida came into administrative existence on 17 April 1976 and celebrates 17 April as "Noida Day". It was set up as part of an urbanization...
. In the same year, the chain introduced three new outlet formats, including "Nirula's Express", Food Court Unit and Ice-Cream Kiosks, and the first Express outlet opened at the Delhi Airport.
Today it has outlets in across North India
North India
North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat or Shumālī Hindustān , is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage...
, in places like Panipat
Panipat
Panipat بَنِبَت is an ancient and historic city in Panipat district, Haryana state, India. It is 90 km north from Delhi and 169 km south of Chandigarh on NH-1. The three battles fought at the city were turning points in Indian history. The city is famous in India by the name of "City of...
, Dehradun
Dehradun
- Geography :The Dehradun district has various types of physical geography from Himalayan mountains to Plains. Raiwala is the lowest point at 315 meters above sea level, and the highest points are within the Tiuni hills, rising to 3700 m above sea level...
, Jaipur
Jaipur
Jaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 3.1 million....
, Meerut and Pathankot
Pathankot
Pathankot became 22nd district on 28th July 2011 and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Punjab. It was a part of the Nurpur princely state ruled by the Rajputs prior to 1849 AD. It is a meeting point of the three northern states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir...
.
Locations
- DelhiDelhiDelhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
: New Friends ColonyNew Friends ColonyNew Friends Colonys market caters to all kinds of food lovers. Nathu's, McDonald's, Nirula's, Domino's, Albake, Pizza Hut, Maze, Bon-Bon Pastry Shop and confectioneries,other Indian, Chinese and Thai restaurants and various coffee shops like Barista and Cafe Coffee Day for the fast food lovers...
, Punjabi BaghPunjabi BaghPunjabi Bagh is one of the prominent and well-developed localities of Delhi, India. It also is one of the three subzones of West Delhi.It is one of the most popular, posh & costliest places in Delhi....
, Vasant ViharVasant ViharVasant Vihar is an up-market neighborhood located in the South West Delhi district of National Capital Territory of Delhi, which houses many diplomatic missions of foreign countries ....
, Connaught PlaceConnaught Place, New DelhiConnaught Place Connaught Place Connaught Place (Hindi: कनॉट प्लेस, (officially Rajiv Chowk) is one of the largest financial, commercial and business centers in Delhi. It is often abbreviated as CP and houses the headquarters of several Indian firms. Its surroundings occupy a place of pride...
, Vasant KunjVasant KunjVasant Kunj is an upmarket residential colony located in South West Delhi district of Delhi, India, on the hills of Aravali, which today has well over 100,000 residents...
, Karol BaghKarol BaghKarol Bagh, also spelled as Qarol Bagh , is a mixed residential-cum-commercial neighbourhood in Delhi, India, known for its shopping streets, like the Ghaffar Market and Ajmal Khan Road...
, Preet ViharPreet ViharPreet Vihar is a residential colony in East Delhi, India. It is situated on Vikas Marg. It also has a well known commercial complex near the Metro station on Vikas Marg.-Composition:...
, G.K II - HaryanaHaryanaHaryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
: GurgaonGurgaonGurgaon is the second largest city in the Indian state of Haryana. Gurgaon is the industrial and financial center of Haryana. It is located 30 km south of national capital New Delhi, about 10 kilometers from Dwarka Sub City and 268 km south of Chandigarh, the state capital...
, FaridabadFaridabadFaridabad is a city in the south-east of Haryana state in northern India, in Faridabad district. It lies at 28º 25' 16" N Latitude and 77º 18' 28" E Longitude. The district shares its boundaries with the National Capital and Union Territory of Delhi to its north, Gurgaon district to the west and...
, PanipatPanipatPanipat بَنِبَت is an ancient and historic city in Panipat district, Haryana state, India. It is 90 km north from Delhi and 169 km south of Chandigarh on NH-1. The three battles fought at the city were turning points in Indian history. The city is famous in India by the name of "City of... - RajasthanRajasthanRājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
: JaipurJaipurJaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 3.1 million....
, UdaipurUdaipurUdaipur , also known as the City of Lakes, is a city, a Municipal Council and the administrative headquarters of the Udaipur district in the state of Rajasthan in western India. It is located southwest of the state capital, Jaipur, west of Kota, and northeast from Ahmedabad... - Punjab: ChandigarhChandigarhChandigarh is a union territory of India that serves as the capital of two states, Haryana and Punjab. The name Chandigarh translates as "The Fort of Chandi". The name is from an ancient temple called Chandi Mandir, devoted to the Hindu goddess Chandi, in the city...
, PathankotPathankotPathankot became 22nd district on 28th July 2011 and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Punjab. It was a part of the Nurpur princely state ruled by the Rajputs prior to 1849 AD. It is a meeting point of the three northern states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir...
, JalandharJalandharJalandhar is a city in Jalandhar District in the state of Punjab, India. It is located 144 km northwest of the state capital, Chandigarh... - Uttar PradeshUttar PradeshUttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
: LucknowLucknowLucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
, Meerut
Types of restaurants
- Family style restaurant: quick service with take-away, home delivery and order-on-line service
- Nirula's Express: take aways
- Fuels Station Outlets.
- Potpourri: Fully waiter served, multi-cuisine speciality restaurant
- Nirula's 21 (Ice cream parlours)
- Pegasus bar