PANJIM: Businesses are continuously evolving and Veljee Ventures is too. The group is contemplating moving into the four-wheeler market in five years if the conditions are right. At present the group is set to move into the food truck business. As the fourth generation enters, the business has moved from being just two-wheeler dealers, which it was at inception in 2010.
The group initially made a mark with its Vespa dealership and then added the Suzuki dealership. To avoid placing all its eggs in one basket the group diversified by taking the rights to sell products of Cox and Kings and then finally a hotel in Donna Paula. A move into education followed with the group taking the rights of Sunshine schools from toddlers to upper KG. Today the group has interests in education, real estate where they have rented out properties, travel, automobiles and hotels to name a few. Earlier in the year the group was presented with an opportunity to take up another Vespa dealership in Parra. This is a second dealership with the same company.
Farid Veljee chairman of the group said “Between 2010 and 2012 my son Fardeen was studying abroad and then he returned and joined me bringing in his new ideas and drive which has helped us.”
The son, Fardeen has interests in advertising, event management and is now planning a move into the food truck business. Farden intends to have one truck based in Talegoan. He eventually intends to have a presence on the coastal belt too. He says he is paying a great deal of attention to the design of the interiors because he wanted to offer cold as well as hot dishes to patrons. He said “The engineering has got to be right to ensure we serve world class food.”
No business can operate in isolation and the group has adopted a village in Velguem under the banner of the Habib Veljee trust and has plans to spruce up the school operated by the panchayat and other need based requirements. The group has been expanding continuously due to the aggressive streak in both father and son but now the importance of instilling systems has taken prime importance.
Farid said “Even if we are not there, it should move systematically and we are in the process of installing a surveillance system. We are also focussed on staff recruitment. We now interview people first and then decide if we have a vacancy. We want people with knowledge and understanding in their fields.”
The transport industry is witnessing and is expected to witness even more seismic changes. Ownership if two and four wheelers are expected to drop and electric vehicles are expected to lead the charge. The chairman claimed they were ready having represented Hero electric in the past. In addition he said the infrastructure required is much less when compared to petrol or diesel vehicles.
The group is poised to grow consistently and in twenty years in the words of Fardeen will be a brand to be reckoned with in Goa, a state they will be always based in Goa though its operations will spread all over the country.
