Young Entrepreneurs Cafe
23rd August – : Preparation of ‘ Green & Healthy ‘ Food – Morning
The kitchen team was all present, very motivated and happy that for the first time in their lives, they were going to form part in a very exciting adventure! Prior to entering the School Enterprise Award, they were very used to eating junk and fast foods, such are used the present generations. Mostly chicken, beef, pork, etc. Vegetables, quite rare.
With this competition and the Ministry of Agriculture putting emphasis on ‘consuming green and fresh’, the team of the JR School Young Entrepreneurs Café feels different in that they are now forming part of a national campaign which invites the general public to eat healthy and most particularly in regards to the growing rates of diabetes, blood pressure, cardiac in Mauritius. The Government therefore encourages such initiatives for its population to eat healthy.
With the harvest of fresh vegetables, we intend to add a healthy flavour to our dishes and promote ‘eating green and healthy’.
All vegetables were nicely kept in hygienic places meeting the norms of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP); however, the Quality Assurance Manager of the JR School was requested, and he happily agreed to our request of verification and validation of vegetables to be used in the noodles and rice prior to consumption.
Being a Member of the Management Team, Mr Rakesh Golaub, Director, Academy of Hospitality expertise was sought to finalise all cooking and serving procedures; he also gave his approval for vegetables and food to be cooked as they strictly meet the requirements of the HACCP Quality Management Systems.
On the other hand, some members were busy preparing the setting to welcome the first customers to lunch.
Others were involved in preparing the take-aways and recycled paper bags to be made ready for the take away service, as per our ‘ Go Green Policy’.
23rd August – : Menu
No stone was left unturned to welcome the first customers of the JR School Young Entrepreneurs Café.
The main menu with prices with was set and displayed in the Cafe
23rd August-: The Kitchen Operations Team
The kitchen was very animated with members of the Kitchen Operations Team of the JR School Entrepreneurs Café,; each and everyone was busy with his / her own tasks as provided to them by the Team Leader/Chef.
23rd August – : Dr Rajcoomar Jhurry , CEO / Founder of JR School as Chief Guest
On the other hand, some members were busy preparing the setting to welcome the first customers to lunch. Among them would be Dr Rajcoomar Jhurry, CEO / Founder and Mr Teerooven Guillaume, General Manager of JR School.
Both have provided their support and facilities for the implementation of JR School Young Entrepreneurs Café
23rd August-: The D-Day of 1st Lunch
Wow! The D-Day of 1st Lunch for the JR School Young Entrepreneurs Café …..and the Sales Team was there, waiting to welcome their first customers……
Around noon, first two customers showed off ; The order was for two plates of fried noodles with vegetables plus drinks. The team members were afraid that the first day might turn very poor in sales…..Despite their efforts in communications? What happened? Except for the two, nobody was there…..There faces turned serious.
Oops!!!! Dr Rajcoomar Jhurry and Mr Teerooven Guillaume coming to the Café…….and after them other students were following….
By the end of the day, the Café had welcomed 18 customers, including students, trainers, Dr Jhurry, Mr Guillaume and other staff. But the whole team was very satisfied with their first day sales. They all had worked very hard and earned the congratulations of the Team Leader as well as Dr Rajcoomar Jhurry for their entrepreneurial initiative and efforts in implementing this project.
Dr Jhurry quoted Zig Ziglar while addressing the JR School Young Entrepreneurs Café :
You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win,
and expect to win.
‘Teach a Man to Fish’ initiative had indeed taught them the different phases of putting this specific project into practice. What an experience for all them!
That was only the beginning……………………..
24th August – 31st August -: Freshness in the Plate & Communication Campaign
The JR School Young Entrepreneurs Café was operating brilliantly and with the same motivation and vibrancy. Dr Rajcoomar Jhurry and the Management Team encouraged them to persevere in their initiatives.
Everyday, fresh vegetables were brought to the kitchen and with such freshness in the plates, consumers definitely started to increase gradually despite competition from fast food units, street hawkers and nearby restaurants. The strong determination of team members kept motivation level high.
One week after its official opening, JR School Young Entrepreneurs Café had officially registered sales of 65 plates of fried noodles / rice , 35 sandwiches, 90 salted snacks with fresh vegetables cultivated by the Garden Team.
September 1st – 10th September -: Risks, Communication Campaign & Sales
The crew of the JR School Young Entrepreneurs Café have to uphold their own challenge; Rome was not built in one day, and the Café will not get many customers in its opening phase. When one is Entrepreneur, taking risks is part of the game and the game is already on.
To win without risk is to triumph without glory – Corneille
Communications strategies focused on distributing flyers and pamphlets to potential customers with menu / prices. The Sales Team went for direct selling by explaining their project to the students and other target customers, why they were doing this project a competition from Teach a Man To Fish, UK- the importance and benefits of eating fresh vegetables,etc.
On the other hand, Thanks to the personal efforts of the Sales Team, who have continuously and relentlessly, persevered in the communications initiatives, the JR School Young Entrepreneurs Café started to benefit from an increase in customers.
September 12th – September 26 : Sales Outcome for September and Review
During the two weeks, emphasis was laid on the outcomes of the efforts of the whole Team of JR School Young Entrepreneurs Café:
– The Management Team.
– Kitchen Operations Team
– Garden Operations Team
– Sales Team in the Café
Focus was on reviewing the strategies of sales , customer service and communications. Were these effective? How could the team meet with the targets as spelled out in the Financial Plan? What are their strengths and weaknesses? And how are these to be addressed?
However, the outcome was satisfactory. One month after its opening, the Café is becoming more popular, thanks to the aggressive sales strategies adopted by the Sales Team.
| Price per Unit | Quantity | Total (A x B) | |
| Income | |||
| Salted snacks including sandwiches | Rs 15 | 300 | Rs 4,500 |
| Sweet snacks | Rs 17 | 100 | Rs 1,700 |
| Fried noodles with fresh vegetables | Rs 80 | 135 | RS 10,800 |
| Fried rice with fresh vegetables | Rs 80 | 129 | Rs 10,320 |
| Take Aways | Rs 10 | 45 | Rs 450 |
The challenge to sell according to the targets set in the section 10 –Financial Plan is still there. The saying goes ‘ Where there is a will, there is way’. And the team is ready to take this challenge, till the end.
Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success – Henry Ford
Jhurry Rya School (JR School) Ltd 