With an insider’s knowledge of how the hospitality industry works and what it was missing from a supplier standpoint, Ranjan Salis started Renarte Hospitality Supply with a vision to be a reliable, one-stop resource for anyone who is setting up new hotels and restaurants, for anyone looking to streamline their supply chain process, and for anyone contemplating a makeover of their existing hotels and restaurants. Now, with offices in Dubai, Qatar, and Toronto, Ranjan Salis oversees a company that supplies top quality products to the many of the best hotels and restaurants around the globe.
TabletopJournal: Renarte has been in the hotel supply business for about 10 plus years now, but you have been in the industry much longer. Tells us a little bit of your background and why you decided to start your own distribution company.
Ranjan Salis: I’m a trained hotelier having completed my Hospitality Management from IHM-Mumbai in 1988, thereafter I worked in hotels in India, the Middle-East & one solitary cruise ship in the US until 1998. I was fortunate to be inducted into the tabletop equipment business solely by default, I never thought selling was my forte, but it turned out to be my calling. Having worked for a distribution company for 8 years from Sales Manager to being the General Manager of the company, I felt there was a lot more possible that I was not allowed to do in my employment. After all, most businesses in the middle-east are family owned, so that is when I decided to take a leap of faith. Not being from an entrepreneurial background didn’t do any good either, lots of doubts & plenty of bills to pay with a young family in tow.
In a nutshell, I set out to start my own business because I felt I could make a difference, but how?? Mainly by being innovative, adventurous in bringing new ideas into the market & offering stellar service.
TJ: Now we know that the tabletop is just one part of your business. What other services does Renarte offer?
RS: Renarte has always been a one-stop shop for Operating Supplies, we offer everything from In-Room products, Housekeeping & Front Office Equipment, Buffet Equipment, Kitchen Utensils to Minibars & Safes.
TJ: Of course, Renarte is also very involved in tabletop. What role would you say that restaurant tabletop products play in today’s guest dining experience?
RS: This is one question I love answering. I don’t think most of us give sufficient credit to our patrons, you will be surprised how many of them are aware of the brands put on the table. A finely set table with products showing parity go a long way in the guests dining experience, it can also augment your average check. It is a LOT about the food on the table but do not underestimate the power of your tabletop to keep that cash register ringing.
RS: I would not like to say we are so very different than our competition in terms of product offering. Most of our competitors, whether it is UAE, Qatar or Canada carry similar level of quality, but the difference we bring is our expertise in offering solutions. We do not sell product, we offer ideas & multiple options to cater to a clients’ individual needs. Unfortunately, most restaurateurs, food & beverage managers & hotel owners prefer to choose the run of the mill, easy to procure products to simplify their buying process. How on earth can a large dealer selling everything from a toothpick to a bag of onions do justice to what’s on offer out there in terms of product offering… THEY CANNOT!!
That is why I would encourage the buyers to talk to the actual product distributors who can explain the salient features of their products as well as walk them through the care & usage specifications.
TJ: Renarte started off in the Middle East and has recently come to North America. What was the thought process behind that decision? How is the addition of Canada going? And, can USA customers buy through Renarte?
RS: I live in Canada & given the fact that I spend a significant period of time through the year here, it was inevitable to open up an office here. As for how things are going in Canada, I will just say it is encouraging to see people showing interest in our offerings, I feel we are making a difference. As for USA customers buying from Renarte’s Canadian office, I would say for the moment it might be possible for only a few lines that we hold exclusivity for. We do not traditionally sell outside our designated territory agreed upon with our suppliers.
TJ: Currently you have business in Dubai, Qatar, and Canada. How do the products differ in these places? How are the similar?
RS: The brands on offer for the middle-east are similar, however most of the brands we work with in the middle-east already had representation in Canada, so we have a new set (though largely similar) of brands for Canada. The website for the middle-east is www.renartellc.com & for Canada is www.renarte.ca, all the brands for each territory are listed there.
TJ: Now that you are in North America, what will your clients here soon be finding out about Renarte that your clients in the Middle East already know? –
RS: That the Renarte brand stands for Stellar Service, Fresh Ideas, and Integrity Pricing.
TJ: The hospitality industry is moving faster and faster. Are there any future plans for new locations for Renarte?
RS: It took me 8 years in my first job in distribution to set up Renarte in the middle-east and another 6 years residency in Canada before I set up here. The sky is the limit, as long as I can do justice to what I have already set up, I do not intend to make Renarte a commodity.
For more information on Renarte in the Middle East, go here: www.renartellc.com
For more information on Renarte in Canada, go here: www.renarte.ca
