The Consulate General of India in Manchester has inaugurated the first North of England outlet of Indian street food chain Shree Krishna Vada Pav (SKVP) at Manchester Arndale.
Located at Halle Place in the shopping centre, offering Mumbai’s iconic vada pav and other vegetarian street food dishes.
“The renowned street food brand of India comes to the heart of Manchester, further deepening the cultural ties between the two countries, said the Consulate General, adding, “The entrepreneurial venture of Mr. Sujay, Subodh and Mahesh is the ‘living, delightful example of growing India-Manchester ties.'”
Founded in 2010 by Sujay Sohani and Subodh Joshi, later joined by Mahesh Raikar, SKVP has grown from a small outlet serving vada pav and cutting chai into one of the UK’s fastest-growing Indian vegetarian quick-service restaurant chains.
Based in Birmingham, the company specialises in authentic Mumbai street food, offering dishes including vada pav, pav bhaji, misal, bhel puri, dabeli, wraps, curries and South Indian specialties.
The founders, hospitality professionals from Mumbai, left careers in the UK’s hotel industry to introduce authentic Indian street food to British consumers. Over the past 15 years, the brand has expanded to more than 20 outlets across England and has outlined plans to grow to 100 locations by 2030.
The company’s expansion received a boost after securing investment from Indian snack maker Haldiram’s, which SKVP said would help accelerate its growth across the UK.
Author: George Shaw
Former BBC journalist and founder and CEO of an award-winning London advertising and PR company for 20 years, providing restaurant consultancy services. Spent a decade as the director of communications of the Asian Catering Federation in the UK and lead judge for its various restaurant and chef awards programmes. Now returned to journalism, specialising in food and travel and currently the Editor-in-Chief for Taste London, Taste Asia, the Good Curry Guide and CEO of International Culinary Guides.