We’re in the process of launching our first outlet in Vashi under the brand name ‘Mumbaiya’. We do over a 101 types of Maggi Noodles, served steaming hot. We offer variations like:
– Soy Chilli Garlic Maggi
– Punjabi Tadka Maggi
– Achaari Maggi
– Pav Bhaji Maggi
– Paneer Hariyali Maggi etc., etc.
Our challenge is how do we make Maggi as a product look sexy? I mean when someone looks at the outlet, he should have this feeling of, I wanna really try this. Our marketing and menu is entirely in images.
Sarthak Dudhara
“Maggi Remixed” sounds like a good tagline. I had your maggi in TIE Summit mumbai and it was a fresh change :). I had the perception of a ‘sexy’ product at your stall. Sorry, cant help answer your question, but I really liked it
All the best.
asha chaudhry
hi hitesh,
the good thing is that you’ve identified your problem 🙂
selling food is all about grabbing people’s eye through appealing pix firstly. once you induce trial, your product will speak for itself. so yes, you need a really good photographer who specialises in food photography.
you also need to catch hold of a good art director as well – while your branding and tag is great – the look is messy. you’ve got all sorts of fonts on the same poster – you need help!!!
try and get in touch with nishchal – he might be able to help you. i’ve shared this link with him as well. we have quite a few rodinhooders who are designers. let’s hope many more respond to this post and sex up the noodles!!!!
https://www.therodinhoods.com/profile/NishchalPar
Sarthak Dudhara
Great Insights. I think Asha is spot on here. I guess I didnt see these as I have already tried your product and liked it :). I guess you were having a ‘free’ trial of maggi at the TIE summit, but obviously that cant work for the masses.
The first problem is getting people to try it, and that can be solved by making your product look more tempting. Food photography is an art in itself and the banners on which you display those tempting pics should make people crave for it.
Hitesh Bhatia
Thanks Sarthank for the inputs. Am happy that you recall us from TES. TES was an amazing experience and we’re hoping to re-create that through our various outlets opening up shortly.
Hitesh Bhatia
Thanks Asha! I like the way you think. We’re starving for feedback like this. We’ve doing a lot of free trials all of this month just to get inputs from various people. I’ll try to touch base with Nishchal too.
Sarsij Nayanam
Maggi-nama , Maggi-nomix … 🙂
Whatever you name it….but this is an interesting concept……
Only thing I would like to add from my end is – Maggi itself is a superb success-story, and it has been well accepted by market …. and you added ‘desi’ flavors are just like topping over the pizza……now, the only thing you need to do it reach out to the right market who can try out this …. obvious customers are – college students and working professionals looking out for a quick snack…..your Proof of Concept can come from them if you put it at a right price point….and sell them near their colleges and offices…..if you crack this pricing puzzle, you have cracked it.
Satish Vijaykumar
Hi Tinku,
IMO You don’t need to make the product look sexy, The Taste should by Sexier. Eg. Tibbs Frankie, Chinese Bhel Stall, Bhel Puri stall.. rarely do they have any major product image.
If people start eating and if they like it , they will talk about it to the world. You could probably trying a sampling drive or promotion at some cool events in Bombay eg. Barcamp, Kalaghoda, Blog Camp Tweetup etc.
Also wanted to ask is Nestle okay with the Maggi Brand being used or is there some way around that you’ve used.
Wishing you all the best for in your endeavour.
cheers,
satish
Sanket Saraf
I think price is the sexiest thing for an Indian consumer!
Ankush bedi
Hitesh,
wow! I would love to try all 101 types.
There may be a legal issue here though. I think that you cannot name your product or service ***maggi***. The reason being that Maggi is nestle’s trademark (registered in india too) and naming your product such that it includes “Maggi,” may lead to trademark infringement or “passing off” (Selling your own product by using a popular brand name).
So you may name your product: “Pav Bhaji noodles” or any other rendition thereof and then add that “we use Maggi for all preparations”
However, you cannot call it “Pav bhaji Maggi” or “remixed maggi” etc.
PS: I am not a trademark attorney though, so you may want to confirm this with one.
Sid Soni
Great inputs Ankit. Guess that name cannot be used for branding purposes.
Hitesh Bhatia
Thanks everyone for the replies. Some of things we have already put in place:
1. Now it’s called Mumbaiya, Moodles Remix-ED. This was done 6-8 weeks back. With Moodles we have people walking upto us asking what are Moodles. It helps attract people to our counter (Maggi + Noodles = Moodles)
2. We’ve been testing our proof of concept across college’s, hostels, corporate, malls, expo’s, etc. Lots more to go though. We’re doing trials across various small sets of groups too.
3. The taste is a success, the feedback has been proven through repeat sales & orders.
4. In terms of price we’re as competitive as a caterer who sells Maggi and McDonalds. Pricing is rock bottom as of now.
@Sarsij: Thanks for the inputs. We’re more than hoping to crack this at the earliest.
@Satish Anna: The products mentioned have been tested over aged. My top priority goal is to attract people to our counters via branding and images. then we’ll do the rest. We’re doing a trial at Social Wavelength next week via a barter i.e. eat Maggi, help us on FB+Twitter. In case you know of someone who can help us with Barcamp, Blogcamp, Tweetup, etc. please please do let us know. WRT Nestle being ok, as of now BIG NO, hence we’ve changed our tagline. They are ok with us mentioning Maggi in the menu.
@Sanket: You’ll love the pricing
@ Ankush: We won’t be doing a 101 at any outlet, the logistics will kill us. We have a fixed menu + weekly specials. Your welcome to our kitchen to try all 101, but that too would involve around 30+ visits atleast.
Thanks guys for the inputs. Really helped clear out my mind on a lot of doubts.
PS: In case anyone of you want us to visit your office for Maggi trials, please do feel free to touch base.
asha chaudhry
Moodles is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
can you pls stop saying “maggi trials”?
dude, it’s MOODLES TRIALS!!
Tejas Patel
Agree. Maggi is just an ingredient, you guys are doing all the magic.
Sugandha Dubey
Hitesh,
1. write to / call and speak with the communication head of Nestle for legal implications if any from a branding point of view.
2. There are two ways to make food “look” sexy. When you say look I assume you are talking about visuals & photographs. So you can go with a with models and without models option.
If you have seen the latest Mumbai Times ” Born Glamorous campaign ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGxd2Li-To8 ) this is one way of doing it.
The other way is without models and a sexy concept woven around food.
Both will cost you some decent amount money as Food Photography is a highly specialised field and not easy to get good food photographers + stylists.
Do let me know if you need any help 🙂
Best !
Sushrut Munje
One great thing about your service is that the masses LOVE the main ingredient already. Since you’re going to be a regular buyer of Maggi Noodles, is there a possibility that Nestle would like to be associated with you? You’re only making their product more popular.
When you’re branding, focus on customization and the ingredients. It should be about different flavors and different aromas making Maggi more delicious than ever before. Keep it very simple yet classy, like Fasoos does it. Work on the service delivery, every customer should feel at home.
Best wishes. I’ll be a regular at your outlet.
Alok Sharma
All the best buddy..
Everybody love Maggi so everybody serving as well. Just focus on Quality and Uniqueness.
Alok
http://www.citykirana.com
Let’s Make Life Simple
Hegde S
Hi
To Make it look different, Once Cooked, place the bowl on low RPM rotating plate ( May have to fabricate a rotating plate like you see one inside microwave oven, Let the bowl rotate at a speed of wet grinder) All the noogle strings will sit neatly due to centrefugal force, then garnish. This would look different..:) ( Disclaimer : Never tried, btu I am an engineer by birth)
Hitesh Bhatia
Thanks guys for the feedback & view points. We’ve decided to go in for photo’s.
The entire Menu will be in the form of photos and we’re working with a seasoned photographer to make it look SEXY.
Yogesh Bhalerao
Where is your store at Vashi ?
Yo Gesh Gupta
hey dude where excatly in vashi are you opening your outlet? share the address please.
i live in vashi and i would love to tryout the MOODLES!!!!!!!!!!
Darshan Bhambiru
Darshan Bhambiru
Hitesh Bhatia
Hey Yo Gesh,
We were in Vashi till last year, have moved out ow and are based at carter road in bandra.
Kushank Jain
For tagline, you can try ‘The Noodle Wala’, adding a desi touch to your concept.
Srinivas
Dear Hitesh,
You can reach me on srini.wall07@gmail.com or alternatively share you contact details – will help take things forward.
Regards
Srini
Swati
How about introducing healthy Maggi for the health conscious!!??