Designing Signature Restaurant Experience
The Visionary- Raj Thakur
Raj is a seasoned hospitality professional with deep experience across hotels and high-street restaurants in India, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. He began his career with industry leaders such as the Taj Group and Oberoi Hotels, building a strong foundation in service excellence and operations. In the UAE, he worked with Holiday Inn, Ramada Hotel, and the Chicago Beach Hotel (now Jumeirah Beach Hotel) before joining Bin Hendi Group as Assistant Vice President, where he helped launch over a dozen franchise brands and several homegrown concepts tailored for the UAE market.
He later led the Hospitality Division at Al AMRY Group, strengthening brands like Layali Zaman and Café Lafayette through disciplined planning and operational efficiency. As COO of global QSR brand Bikanervala, he drove significant expansion and positioned it as one of the UAE’s most loved fast-casual Indian dining brands.
Today, Raj is an entrepreneur behind multiple fast-casual and QSR concepts, including his flagship restaurant Chowpatty Xpress and the Kolkata-style Chinese brand Art of Wok. With a career defined by innovation, consistency, and operational excellence, Raj now brings his expertise to Sustainable ME, helping hospitality businesses scale and grow sustainably across the UAE and beyond.
At Sustainable ME he brings this depth of experience and hands on leadership to support hospitality businesses seeking to build scale and grow sustainably in the UAE and beyond.
Serving Excellence One Platter a Time
For more than 25 years, we’ve partnered with the food service industry to turn concepts into thriving, profitable and operationally strong businesses that stand the test of time.
Our expertise spans every stage of the journey, from refining ideas and shaping market ready concepts to optimizing operations, enhancing guest experience and building sustainable growth strategies.
With decades of insight and hands on industry knowledge, we help brands not only launch successfully but scale with confidence in an ever evolving market.
Our Proven Strategies
Our proven strategies are built on decades of industry insight, real world experience and a deep understanding of what drives success in the food service and hospitality sector.
We combine data driven decision making with creative problem solving to develop concepts that are not only operationally efficient but commercially compelling.
From market analysis and menu engineering to operational structuring, guest experience design and long term growth planning, our approach is tailored to deliver measurable results.
Every strategy we craft is practical, scalable and focused on turning challenges into opportunities, ensuring your business remains competitive, profitable and future ready.
Restaurant Concept & Brand Development
WHAT WE OFFER:
Foodservice & Restaurant Concept Development
Brand Positioning
Concept Book that Articulates the Vision
Financial Modeling
Space Planning
Market Research & Feasibility
Restaurant Business Plan & Pitch Deck
Foodservice Research & Trends Discovery Tour
Market Opportunity Analysis
Consumer Research & Concept Testing
Start Ups
WHAT WE OFFER:
Startup Advisory and Project Management Support
Efficient Facility & Kitchen Design
Menu & Recipe Development
Management Recruiting
Operations Systems and Process Development
Financial Systems Advisory
Technology Systems
Supply Chain Set Up Support
Training Systems
Hands-on Restaurant Opening Support
Launch Strategies
Menu & Recipe Development
WHAT WE OFFER:
Food and Beverage R&D
Recipe Engineering for Profit & Food Quality
Culinary Training
Sourcing Strategies
Bar and Beverage Program Development
Service ware & Packaging Strategies
Recipe Costing & Documentation
Efficient Production Strategies
LTO and Promotional Product Pipeline
Restaurant Performance & Audit
WHAT WE OFFER:
Site Visit and Assesment
FOH, BOH, Systems
Facility Layout & Design
Food Safety & Sales Channels
Technology Use
P&L, Cost Management
Communication, Promotions
Training Systems Review
Multi Unit Supply Chain Analysis
Menu, Labor and Time Motion Analysis
Financial Review & Advisory
Off Premise Assessment
Restaurant Operations & Efficiency
WHAT WE OFFER:
Foodservice, Bar & Kitchen Design
Menu Analysis & Engineering
Recipe Documentation and Reengineering
Labor Optimization
Reduce Operating Expenses
Production Planning & Workflow
Inventory Management
Leadership & Management Coaching
Commercialization of Products
Commissary Systems
Restaurant Technology Solutions
Management Recruitment
Restaurant Profit & Strategy
WHAT WE OFFER:
Upselling Techniques & Hospitality Training
Sales Channel Analysis
Promotions and Day Part Drivers
Menu Analysis & Engineering
Recipe Documentation and Reengineering
Catering and Off-Premise Program Development
Site Visit and Assessment
Competitive Market Analysis
Menu & Recipe Development for LTO or New Items
Ghost or Virtual Kitchen Programs
Brand Refresh
WHAT WE OFFER:
- Brand & Concept Evaluation
- Competitive Analysis for Market Opportunity
- Marketing - ATL & BTL
- Target Market Research & Definition
- Brand and Concept Repositioning for Profitability
- Refresh Strategies & Budget Planning
- Change Management
Our Work
raajthaakuur@gmail.com
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