M. Mahadevan, fondly called ‘Hot Breads’ Mahadevan, has been in the hospitality and catering business for over three decades now. Hailing from Udumalpet, a simple town in Tamil Nadu located 65 kilometers from Coimbatore; Mahadevan has also served as a teaching professor at the University of Madras. Both his parents are doctors.
His passion for food led him to start Oriental Cuisines Private Limited (OCPL) in May 1994. He set up the first Hot Breads outlet in Chennai in 1989 and in Dubai in 1995. ‘Hot Breads’ success has been replicated and has now grown to over 30 locations in India and more than 40 abroad.
Mahadevan works with more than 252 partners across 18 countries, 476 eateries and more than 5,000 employees. He runs three banners — Oriental Cuisines, CC Fine Foods and B&M Hot Breads. The brands that he manages with his global partners are Benjarong, Sera, Ente Keralam, Wang’s Kitchen, Teppan, French Loaf, and Planet Yumm. Besides, he has set up 42 bakeries and restaurants in the USA, Middle East, Africa, Canada, France and London.
Mahadevan has also been helping create entrepreneurs by starting Winners Bakeries to help young bright people set up their own outlets. There are five in Chennai and four in Coimbatore. He also teaches bread making to prisoners in Chennai’s Central Prison at Puzhal. Writer’s café, his third venture on the social front, rehabilitate survivors of domestic abuse, acid attacks and fire accidents. A philanthropist, a social entrepreneur, his charitable deeds
are endless.
In an exclusive interview, Mr. M. Mahadevan shares with Marie Banu his journey as a social entrepreneur.
What was the driving force for you to move from teaching to becoming a Food entrepreneur?
This was a journey I took to make money; there was no other motive.
I started my career as an Assistant Professor in the University of Madras in 1979 and taught Marketing Management and Accountancy to students. But, my fierce ambition was to be a part of the hotel industry and this drove me to satisfy my urge.
I took up a part-time night job with a hotel in the city where I started working for four hours at night to learn more about the industry. I juggled with many roles; from being a trainee, a bellboy, and receptionist – to almost everything. So, while I worked as a professor during the daytime, I also moonlighted as an apprentice with a hotel in the evenings.
At the hotel, I witnessed people who came and threw money on fancy dinners and drinks. They were spending my one-month salary on their one night dinner. Here came the fire in the belly to become rich and that made me work hard to become a food entrepreneur as I had a passion for food.
I left my teaching job and moved to the F&B sector full time in 1982. I studied deep into the food and beverage business and acquired enough knowledge to go on my own.
About your entrepreneurial journey in the restaurant space?
My first step was a Chinese take-away at a restaurant in Chennai, which I launched along with a partner who I met in the hotel where I was working. We served food from 5pm to 11.30pm and it was the time when people had a craze for Chinese food. I took advantage of that!
Once, a customer of mine asked if I would be interested to set up a restaurant in a commercial tower that he was constructing. That’s how I launched ‘Cascade’ where we served Chinese, Thai, Malay and Japanese cuisines
as well.
Some three years later, in 1989, I launched ‘Hot Breads’. This was a turning point! The idea was born during one of my trips to Singapore where I went to source ingredients like Chinese sauces. The dinky looking bakeries caught my eye and I decided to launch a similar one back home. Not many of my friends encouraged my move. They thought that I was crazy, but I had my own ideas. It was not just the bread and bakery that I was looking at!
I created some exciting concepts. For instance, we made curry bun and filled chicken tikka inside a croissant. I got the idea after seeing what the Japanese did to their bakery items. This was a huge hit! People used to crowd in our Hot Breads outlet at Alsa Mall in Chennai. From day one, we started to make profits as the concept was unique and our products were tasty. We broke even in the first year and since then we never looked back.
After three months or so, people from Kochi and Bangalore approached me to start Hot Breads units in these cities.
Soon, I came to be known as ‘Hot
Breads’ Mahadevan!
I opened my first international outlet in Dubai in 1994, and recently launched
a south Indian restaurant in
Melbourne, Australia.
You have been setting up several ‘Social Enterprises’ like the Give Life Cafe, Winners Bakery, and Writers Cafe, Freedom bakery at Puzhal Prison, and Eddies Pop Corn. What has been the inspiration?
When I landed in Chennai searching for a job, I have stayed without food and proper roof over my head. With sharing accommodation, sharing food and
going hungry I know what life without resources is!
When I had enough money, I remembered my mother’s brief talk on living and giving. She used to say: “If the Lord bestowed you with more than what you need, the extra he gives you is for the society and not for you.” Her advice and my struggle to conduct my day-to-day life in early Chennai days taught me to share what I have with the needy people.
Money is only a tool to live; it is not life. I began to see the poverty around me and realised that the more I expand my business, the more jobs I would be able to create for people. I wake up every day feeling alive to my responsibilities. I have earned enough money and am now in a position to give back.
I also believe in sustainability in Charity Projects and always had a clear vision – “I should never give fish, instead should teach them to fish.” This planned approach gave me all the above social enterprises, which provides empowerment to the poor people and takes them out of poverty by teaching them a skill.
Which of the social issues are you passionate about?
Two social issues are of highest priority for me – Home for the destitute men & women; and empowerment of abused & poor women.
My mother has been my instrumental force. If I am inclined towards women empowerment, it is because of her. She ensured that my sisters got a degree in either law or medicine and believed that when you educate a girl, you educate
the family.
You have been organising Battle of the Buffet event in Chennai to raise funds for NGOS. Can you tell us about this?
Battle of the Buffet event is organized as part of India’s largest festival of giving – ‘Daan Utsav’, a unique fundraiser that supports worthy NGOs in Tamil Nadu.
I cannot BELIEVE that this idea of mine is a decade old, even my wife discouraged me (when I spoke to her in the first year) saying that no one will pay 5000 rupees for an evening of dinner
and entertainment.
It is a fun-filled evening with great food, fantastic music, and the coming together of like-minded people – all for a social cause! Chefs of leading 5 star hotels and their teams put together a delightful buffet showcasing their culinary talent and throw it open to the people of Chennai, to raise funds for close to 100 NGOs across Tamil Nadu. The restaurants, the chefs and their teams cook up and serve this feast as their “act of giving”. Close to 3000 Chennaites are expected to attend the event by donating (Platinum -Rs.15,000 or Gold -Rs.10,000 or Silver – Rs.7,500) to an NGO they care
and support.
The event organized by Chennai Mission, United way of Chennai, and CIOSA, gives NGOs a lot of visibility among donors. It also networks various donors with newer and deserving NGOs. The registered NGOs will be present in person to share and show case their expertise and projects, thus providing a great platform for public interaction on social causes and action.
Here we are from 81 lac (for 32 NGOs) in 2009 to 6.7 crores that was raised last year from collective donation by over 75 NGOs. Now, it’s time for me to handover this event to a larger organization, as in 2018 we have over 100 NGOs participating and have fixed a fundraising target exceeding seven crores.
