Indian on the rise: Café Spice Global CuisineIndian on the rise: Café Spice Global Cuisine

Lisa Jennings

Café Spice is a brand of Indian meals manufactured in New Windsor, N.Y., for retail stores like Whole Foods.

The company also operates seven quick-service outlets throughout the Northeast, including a flagship unit in New York City’s Grand Central Station, said Sameer Malhotra, Café Spice vice president.

When Café Spice began opening outlets on college campuses, global contract feeder Sodexo Inc. took note. In March, Sodexo announced a master retail license agreement to grow a fast-casual version of the Café Spice brand.

After testing Café Spice outlets at Georgia Tech in Atlanta and Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., last year, Sodexo developed a “new look” design for the concept, which includes a chutney bar that encourages customization.

The menu features recognizable favorites such as halal chicken tikka masala and chicken vindaloo. Naan sandwiches are made with a variety of fillings.

The challenge with Indian cuisine is that many of the dishes are complex and require skilled cooks, said Ray Torres, director of business development for Sodexo’s retail brand group.

For Sodexo’s Café Spice locations, dishes will be made at the New York manufacturing plant and delivered to restaurant units.

By this fall, Sodexo expects to open several Café Spice locations on college campuses and other managed locations, Torres said.

“In our demographic research, we found that our consumers were asking for more authentic global flavors,” he said. “Though some may say we were a bit on the fringe when we started, we feel there’s growing awareness of the cuisine.”

Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected].
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