Member Article

Barnsley restaurant spices up ready meals market

A popular Barnsley restaurant is boosting business with a new range of ready meals, prepared and cooked in its kitchen.

With the economy still struggling, Jaz Boparai, owner of Chilli Restaurant on Market Street in Barnsley, decided to look for new ways to increase sales and keep his kitchens busy during the quieter midweek period.

So to help cash-strapped customers, Chilli has launched a new range of ready meals which is available in shops across the borough.

The meals are prepared in the Chilli kitchens so diners get the same delicious tasting restaurant meals to eat at their own dining table.

Jaz explained: “All our ready meals are made with chicken and come in tikka masala, korma or balti with pilau rice. They are made in the kitchen from the same recipe so people get restaurant quality meals at home.

“Our meals are quite different as Indian food is normally Bangladeshi or Kashmiri but our meals are Punjabi so we use much less oil.”

The meals are on sale in 12 outlets around Barnsley, ranging from Costcutter to farm shops. Prices start from £4.

Jaz, who opened his restaurant in 2004, added: “Although the restaurant is doing well, we are in challenging economic times so it’s about finding alternative revenue streams. It also helps customers who may be feeling the pinch.

“We’re looking to expand the range to include bhajis and samosas and we’re keen to keep it local and boost Barnsley by partnering with local stockists.”

The business is receiving support in its new venture from Barnsley Business and Innovation Centre (BBIC) supported by Enterprising Barnsley with the assistance of funding from Barnsley Council.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mark Lane .