In this episode we welcome Saran Raj. He is the co-founder of Katana Restaurant.
Saran Raj is a hospitality entrepreneur and operations expert with over 26 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Currently running multiple hospitality ventures in the UK, including Katana Peterborough, George Inn Oundle, Marquess of Exeter, Lyddington and Ragged Cot in Cotswold. Saran has built his career on operational excellence and strategic growth.
His diverse background includes leading large-scale Head of Catering operations at NHS Trust, managing 200 staff plus and 1,000 daily meals, and worked best restaurants and hotel chain groups around the world including France, Italy, India and United States of America. Saran brings a global perspective to hospitality sector in the UK.
This conversation is not one to miss!
We discuss these key themes;
-Leadership Roots: Grew up in family food business selling hundreds of kilos daily, fostering strong values of human connection.
-Career Progression: Cleared family debts by age 24; worked in top restaurants, gaining elite hospitality experience.
-Mentorship Influence: Received £15,000 support for hospitality school, shaping his belief in prioritizing attitude over skills in hiring.
-Katana Restaurant Launch: Invested over £1 million; aimed for Mayfair-level dining in Peterborough with unique culinary offerings.
-Operational Strategy: Focused on building a strong team through structured training, enabling consistent service improvements and success.
-Resilience and Balance: Faced personal hardships, emphasized family-first approach, and highlighted discipline as key to sustained success.
🎙️ The INSLATT Podcast – It’s Not So Lonely At The Top
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Your host is Pete Rushmer - https://www.peterushmer.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterushmer/
The podcast is bought to you by 'It's not so lonely at the top' thank you for listening.
More information about our guest Saran Raj;
https://www.linkedin.com/in/saran-raj-a0409a54/
