M. Mahadevan

Discerned among the most successful leaders in the food bussiness, the Dubai-based restaurateur M Mahadevan has its own grandeur when it comes to a conventional restaurateur. Whether guiding one on the way to establish their own business or to develop a restaurant vampire, the veteran would serve as an ideal teacher.

Hailing as a professor of the prestigious Madras University more than 25 years ago, the famed personality has fetch a zenith in the hospitality industry as a successful entrepreneur. He boasts of his vast chain of eateries including 64 restaurants and 20 bakeries. He has his hands across 18 countries including the US, Middle East, India, UK and France.

His journey from a professor to a great restaurateur, his hard work is commendable.

During his journey he has guided students on how to operate an establishment, its management, accounting, and costing.

He had also served as a teacher in Parallel College in Kochi. Following that he was named as a front office manager in a three-star hotel, Ceylon from where he developed a passion and fascination towards kitchen. He was driven by the chefs.

After fetching a decent experience in the culinary field, he initiated with his own restaurant China Garden in 1982. He then unveiled his South Asian restaurant and soon emerged as a popular eating joint. In 1988, Mahadevan opened Hot Breads, Bakery & Confectionary, marking a legendary presence in the burgeoning hospitality industry.

Chennai witnessed its first chain selling bread, croissants and donuts courtesy Mahadevan. With time, the connoisseur managed to open over eight Hot Breads retail outlets in Chennai and more than 40 in South Africa, the Gulf, Far East and America.

In addition, the very famous Saravana Bhavan hit the foreign land a few years back and won huge acclaim. His South Indian restaurants like Anjappar, Kerala-based Paragon, Bangalore-based Nandini and Wang's Kitchen are known for their grandeur in India as well as abroad.