Manoj Bhagwani: From Sweden to Lanzarote — Building Zaffran, Business with Brothers & the Future of Hospitality
What does it really take to build a business with your family — and stay together while it grows? In this episode of High Standards, Rahul Aswani sits down with Manoj Bhagwani, co-founder of Zaffran Group, one of Lanzarote’s leading Indian restaurant groups. Manoj’s story begins far away from Lanzarote. Raised in Sweden, he moved to a foreign country and, together with his brothers, entered the hospitality industry and began building what would eventually become a group of restaurants and diversified businesses. But growth is rarely straightforward. We talk about the journey from one restaurant to four, the challenges of expanding a hospitality business, managing people, maintaining standards and knowing when to take the next risk. A major part of this conversation is about something even more personal: building a business with your brothers. How do three brothers make important decisions together? What happens when they completely disagree? How do you manage ego, resolve conflict and prevent problems at work from becoming problems within the family? Manoj shares his perspective on the lessons they have learned along the way, the importance of communication and why protecting relationships can sometimes matter more than proving who is right. We also explore the realities of the restaurant and hospitality industry: recruitment, leadership, delegation, customer experience, expansion and the difficulties of maintaining consistency as a company grows. Finally, we look towards the future. How will artificial intelligence and technology change restaurants over the next decade? From stock management and purchasing to staffing, reservations, marketing and reducing waste, AI could fundamentally change how hospitality businesses operate. But in an industry built around human interaction, what should never be automated? In this episode: • Growing up in Sweden and moving to Lanzarote • Starting Zaffran from scratch • Going from one restaurant to four • Entrepreneurship in a foreign country • Building a company with your brothers • Managing disagreements and family dynamics • Leadership, people and delegation • Expansion and diversification • Risk and decision-making • The future of restaurants and hospitality • Artificial intelligence in the hospitality industry • Success, sacrifice and staying ambitious High Standards is a podcast about entrepreneurship, leadership, performance and the people behind ambitious ideas. Conversations designed to inspire the next generation to think bigger, raise their standards and build something meaningful. 🎙️ High Standards — EP. 05 Guest: Manoj Bhagwani — Zaffran Group Host: Rahul Aswani #HighStandards #ManojBhagwani #ZaffranGroup #Entrepreneurship #FamilyBusiness #Hospitality #RestaurantBusiness #Leadership #BusinessPodcast #EntrepreneurPodcast #Lanzarote #CanaryIslands #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #BusinessGrowth
