In the culinary world, sourcing is more than just acquiring ingredients. It’s the foundation upon which a restaurant’s reputation is built. Here at NKP Empire, we’ve meticulously crafted a sourcing strategy that prioritises not just quality and consistency, but also responsible practices and enduring partnerships.
Our journey began, as with many restaurants, in local markets. But as NKP Empire’s footprint expanded, so did our sourcing needs. We transitioned from a reactive approach to a proactive one, implementing strategic procurement practices to ensure consistent volume and quality. While direct farmer partnerships are still in development, we’ve established strong connections with key distributors and processors within major wholesale markets. This allows us to source directly from regions renowned for specific produce.
For high-volume items like onions and tomatoes, we leverage a direct sourcing model with distributors at key mandis. This ensures a steady supply of fresh produce that meets our exacting standards. Similarly, our dedicated poultry supplier operates vertically integrated farms and processing facilities, guaranteeing the quality and ethical treatment throughout the entire process of the poultry we use in our dishes.
A prime example of our commitment to long-term partnerships is our collaboration with a Chennai based ghee supplier. This relationship, dating back to the 1980s, exemplifies our dedication to sourcing authentic, high-quality ingredients. Re-evaluating our sourcing strategy led us to appreciate the unique value our partnership brings, prompting us to rekindle this connection.
The secret ingredient behind our successful partnerships? Generational trust. Over the years, we’ve cultivated a deep well of trust with our vendors, built on a foundation of reliability, consistent orders, and fair pricing. This commitment attracts like-minded partners who share our values, fostering a collaborative ecosystem that prioritises quality and responsible food practices.
The true strength of our partnerships was undeniably tested during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite delayed payments due to unforeseen circumstances, our partners continued to prioritise deliveries, a testament to the trust and loyalty we’ve cultivated over time. Their unwavering support underscores the strength and resilience of these long-term collaborations.
Maintaining exceptional quality is paramount to NKP Empire’s success. We enforce stringent vendor management policies, ensuring all suppliers adhere to our exacting standards. Each product comes with a detailed specification sheet outlining size, grade, colour, and other relevant criteria. Our dedicated quality control and quality assurance teams work together with procurement to guarantee that all specifications are met.
While NKP Empire is known for the quality of our entire value chain and the services we deliver, the story behind our sourcing deserves recognition. It’s a testament to the power of long-term partnerships, transparency, and a shared commitment to excellence.