Thirty-year-old Padam Jung Kunwar, founder of the fast food chain ‘Daddy’s Kitchen’, has been in the hospitality business since he was 19. While many youngsters have left Nepal in search of better employment opportunities, Kunwar stands out as a true trailblazer in the industry, thanks to his unrelenting pursuit of excellence, creativity, and unwavering dedication. He received the ‘Captivating Creation Award 2023’. Kunwar’s entrepreneurial journey began with the hospitality industry in Butwal, his hometown, in 2013. Later, he co-founded ‘Daddy’s Kitchen’ with his uncle and the president of the company Kamal Jung Kunwar, whom he considers his mentor. “We started as street vendors,” he says. And it was a struggle to take their business from fast food trucks to several fine-dine restaurants. He claims that initially he was reluctant about doing business on the streets. But later, when the business took off, it boosted his confidence.  As a result, now they operate 14 outlets under ‘Daddy’s Kitchen’, namely ‘Daddy’s Kitchen Food truck’, ‘Cooker Coffee’, ‘Papaya’ and ‘Hipat’ in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Butwal.

“For the business to be successful, the vibe of every eatery location needs to be analyzed,” he says, “It needs to make people feel good and welcomed.” He claims that every time he hunts for a location, the first thing he considers is the location’s potential and market niche. He shares how Cooker Coffee in Tinkune, Kathmandu, was the first and only café in the area.  But now, as he expected, there are already more than 15 eateries close by, and they are usually bustling with people.

Also, he has a particular taste when it comes to his restaurants’ interior design. It is often minimal, rustic, and environment-friendly. In their outlets, they use paper straws/cups and recycled tools for decoration. Also, he says that all his outlets are unique when it comes to service, menu, and designs. He also takes into account every tiny detail from plating the dishes to planning the decor with partners. Kunwar has expanded his business while maintaining his passion for interior design and selecting innovative cuisine. And he supervises all the outlets. When it comes to what he wants for his company, he is quite specific and determined. He mentions how he used to be hesitant and not very conversational in the past and that time and experience have changed him to become how he is today. He believes one of his greatest accomplishments in the entrepreneurial journey has been the shaping of his personality. It was hard for Kunwar to maintain his business during the Covid-19 pandemic. He was busy analyzing the crisis that the Covid-19 brought on his business in terms of timely rent payment and handling salaries. At that time, he gathered family members and they worked together to continue their food deliveries and takeaways while adhering to the covid protocols. The experience taught them valuable lessons on how they could give their business a boost by working on delivery and takeaway systems. In Nepal, brain drain has been a problem for more than a decade. But Kunwar stands as hope for many youths. “Being able to serve my own county is what I count as my biggest accomplishment,” he says. In addition, he has been supporting many other small-scale Nepali businesses. For Cooker Coffee, he has been purchasing local coffees from Gulmi, Syangja, Arghakhanchi, Sindhupalchok, and Kavrepalanchok. He has culturally-focused ideas and is keenly aware of the emerging trends. The idea for Cooker coffee originated from the fact that coffees were traditionally made in a cooker in his hometown. To ensure that he offers excellent service, he checks reviews and ratings on social media and Google. However, he claims that due to inflation and monetary crises, 70 percent of Kathmandu’s restaurants are up for sale. The food industry is becoming more competitive. But thankfully, Daddy’s Group has been doing well. He thinks that doing business in Kathmandu is a lot more challenging than in other cities. He claims that they had to stop operating two stores because of the new street vendor and underground parking policies adopted by Kathmandu Metropolitan City. However, Kunwar recognizes it as his learnings for the future. His dream is to expand his brand to the international market. Kunwar hopes more youths will come up with innovative ideas for startups. There will be hardships and struggles but it will all be worth it in the end, he says.