Chapati Man

About Chapati Man

The idea for the Chapati Man mobile catering business came from civil servant Chris Rai’s habit of taking his home-cooked curry leftovers in a wrap to work with him for lunch. And his hunch that the wider public would also enjoy authentic Indian food served in this manner has certainly paid off.

Along with his textile designer wife Andrea Rai, in 2007 Chapati Man started selling a range of filled, spicy, Indian wraps from a Chapati Man-branded mobile food trailer at UK music festivals such as Glastonbury and Bestival and other outdoor events.

In 2009 Chapati Man launched a retail range of wraps in Morrisons in a nationwide listing.

The partnership lasted for two years and the business began to outgrow the festival fields of this country, where the company estimates around five million festival goers have seen the Chapati Man brand.

In 2013, Chapati Man launched an Indian snacking range in Waitrose - a huge coup for Chapati Man, as Waitrose’s food-to-go fixture is predominantly own label.

Chapati Man was voted number one food caterer at Glastonbury 2007. In 2017, the company’s wraps were voted in the top three of ‘Essential Eats of Glastonbury’.

Chapati Man’s chicken saag wrap, with fresh mint chutney and a cachumber salad, won the national category at the British Sandwich Designer of the Year Finals 2011, a great
achievement and something Chris and Andrea are extremely proud of.

2018 and the start of 2019 was a period of significant growth for the business, following the decision by the couple to franchise the Chapati Man concept. In December 2018, Chris and Andrea sold the master franchise rights for Sri Lanka, while in February 2019 they agreed the sale of the franchise rights for the brand for London.

Chapati Man’s mission from launch in 2007 was to change the way we eat Indian food in the UK and worldwide.

Its wrap fillings include keema aloo, chicken saag, masala chicken and chana aloo. The wraps can be eaten hot or cold. The company says its small, simple menu, which has been
developed over the years, is one of the reasons it’s enjoyed such success.

Chapati Man only sells Fairtrade chai, tea, coffee and sugar and all its cups and packaging are biodegradable. Any cutlery supplied with the company’s food is made from wood.

How does the Chapati Man franchise model work?

The Chapati Man opportunity is a business in a box, as everything necessary to run the franchise is provided by the franchisor, based on its experience in this particular area of the food sector.

Franchisees, who are awarded a protected territory to trade from, adopt a hands-on role in the business, serving hungry customers from their Chapati Man liveried trucks at various outdoor events and high footfall locations.

To ensure customers are served promptly and efficiently, all Chapati Man fillings are pre-prepared, servers simply add salad and sauces to the wraps as per the customer’s instructions, as well as offering a selection of drinks.

Franchisees must possess excellent business management skills, as they are required to administer the franchise in line with the franchisor’s guidelines and standards. They must also be able to demonstrate a passion for running this type of business, be committed to being their own boss and have a good attention to detail.

Did you know?

Chapati Man has outlets available across the UK

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Chapati Man master franchise opportunities, where investors are responsible for a city, region or country, are available.

How much does a Chapati Man franchise cost?

A Chapati Man franchise costs £65,000 - check with the Chapati Man franchise team for master franchise investment levels.

What locations or territories is Chapati Man looking to operate in?

The company has locations and territories throughout the UK and in other parts of the world.

Why is Chapati Man a good investment?

Investors in this franchise have a significant market to target, as the popularity of Indian food in the UK is undisputed. It’s estimated that over £250m is spent on Indian food every year and Indian restaurants serve in the region of three million meals on a weekly basis.

Chapati Man’s differentiator in the market is the way it presents and serves its food, offering a convenient, imaginative way to eat Indian cuisine that appeals to different demographics.

Franchisees also benefit from the operational experience gained by the founders of the company since the business launched in 2007.

According to Chapati Man, the franchise provides the “potential to produce a very attractive level of personal income and capital return” on an initial investment.

More detailed income projections are available to prospective franchisees once the recruitment process gets underway.

Where in the UK is the Chapati Man franchise based?

The company’s headquarters are in London.

What training and support do Chapati Man franchisees receive?

Given to all franchisees and their staff, induction training lasts for 10 days and covers every area of the business, including health and hygiene standards.

When it comes to support, franchisees are given assistance with completing a business plan, securing funding and purchasing their Chapati Man truck.

During the launch phase of a franchise, the franchisor provides three days of on site opening support and marketing assistance to raise the local profile of the business. A further five days of support is available post opening.

Expert, tailored support is on offer throughout the duration of the franchise agreement.

An operations manual is given to each franchisee, which is a reference guide to the systems, processes and procedures required to run the franchise in an efficient manner.

Details of all franchise businesses are include on the main Chapati Man website.

What are the Chapati Man franchise’s terms of agreement and renewal?

The initial franchise agreement lasts for five years and comes with an automatic right to renew.

How can I get started on setting up my own Chapati Man business?

Complete our enquiry form on this page and your details will be sent direct to Chapati Man, who will be in touch to discuss the franchise opportunity with you in detail. All prospective Chapati Man franchisees are required to fill out a detailed questionnaire at the start of the recruitment process.