Now, dogs can call for dabba!

Mumbai Mirror, Dec 6, 2006
                                                                       -Aveek Bhowmik

Wasiff Khan runs a dog dabba service from Bandra. The meals feed over 500
pets in the city, reports Aveek Bhowmik

Low-fat diets, low-carb diets, glycemic-index diets, Atkins - no matter
what, people have a diet plan for any kind of eventuality. But what happens
when it comes to their dogs?
Why is Duke losing her appetite? Has Buff eaten too much of fat? Were
bacteria present in Tuffy's food? These and many more food-related questions
may haunt dog owners.
Now they can put aside their worries. Whether it's concerning the quality of
food or just wondering how to feed the pampered pooch better, 27-year-old
Wasiff Khan has all the answers.
Wasiff runs a dabba service. So what's new? He caters to dogs. He has eight
delivery boys who deliver hot, "home-cooked meals" to about 500 dog-lovers
from Colaba to Andheri every day, on their two-wheelers. His company is
called Homecare Dog Food.
    Wasiff says, "When I started off, I used to deliver food only within
Bandra, where I stay, off Carter Road. I'd cook the food at my residence and
reach it to its destination. However, as business started growing, I
employed delivery boys and hired a place opposite Bandra station in the
west. And today that's where I run my operations from."
    Wasiff started the service, which he says "is one of its kind in
Mumbai", after many consultations with his older brother Kashiff. "I was in
Dubai for a short-term assignment. After returning to India three years ago,
I sought a viable business opportunity. That's when the idea occurred to
me." Wasiff undertook a brief survey of his neighbourhood, following which
he supplied free samples to about 35-40 dog owners around Carter Road. "The
response was overwhelming, straight out. Within a short span of time I had
many satisfied customers," says Wasiff.
    Wasiff divides his meals into two categories - regular and premium -
depending on the preference of the dog owners. "Our menu includes beef,
chicken, mutton and also vegetarian food. However, most owners prefer
non-vegetarian food as dogs are carnivorous." Regular meals are priced
between Rs 30 and 40, while premium meals can go up to Rs 80.
    Wasiff has a long list of celebrity customers, Channel [V] VJ Pia
Trivedi one of them, whose cocker spaniel Sky eats out of Wasiff's hand.
    "It's been three years since Wasiff has been supplying food for Sky. It
was hard for me to find non-vegetarian food to my dog, as we are
vegetarians. The food is stuffed with proteins. It's a whole meal and is
reasonably priced. At the end of each month we spend just about Rs 2,000 on
really good quality food," says Pia.
    After the success of this outlet, Wasiff now has plans of opening
franchisees. "I already have many offers. I hope to launch soon in Delhi and
Pune," he says.
    This business hardly leaves him with any free time. "This is a 365-day
business. Nobody can go without food even for a single day. So we have no
Christmas, New Year or any other vacation."

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