No Junktion keeps you healthy, wealthy and wise

Soham Ghosh, 25, was a junk food eater like any other kid until the alarm went off proclaiming 120 kilos! A family background with health issues coupled with the determination to stay fit, Ghosh retracted his path and initiated a new way of living. However, the foodie in him remained persistent with his demands germinating the idea of his startup venture - No Junktion, a health food bistro that claims to offer lip-smacking food while ensuring hygiene.

Ghosh shares his journey with Baishali Mukherjee, elaborating on his passion, goal, inspiration and way forward - Read on!

Oxymoron is our core concept

No Junktion started as a takeaway outlet right across Priya Cinema Hall (Deshapriya Park, Kolkata) on July 22, 2016. I was morbidly obese as a teenager. It was only when I clocked 120kgs on the weighing scale (I have lost 42 kg ever since), I realised that I needed to change my lifestyle for the better until I encountered serious lifestyle diseases. I hail from a family of diabetics, heart patients with hypertension. I realised I might be next in line and didn't want to suffer the fate. However, when I started eating healthy and started working out, I missed junk food dearly and wondered why junk food couldn't be healthy? Why does healthy food mean you compromise on what you love eating and how much you love eating? No Junktion is a mere reflection of this thought process of curating "healthy junk food." Yes, it's an oxymoron but it's our core concept.

Doing it right

I was at Spencer's- Quest Mall one afternoon shopping for the outlet when I overheard this conversation taking place among a family of three. The child wanted to go for dinner. The father asked the mother to accompany the child as his sugar levels had shot up (he is a diabetic) and he wouldn't want to eat out and rely on home cooked food instead. I went up to him and told him about No Junktion. He said, "Oh! Now someone cares about me when I'm not at home too!" He's been a regular ever since and has brought his friends along. So, whether you're suffering from a health condition or not, you eat the same food, tailored and personalised according to what is right for you.

Kolkata's first concept health food brand

No Junktion is Kolkata's first concept health food brand. We strictly believe that everyone deserves healthy junk food whether you just want to eat healthy or you've encountered any specific health condition. What makes us unique is that we also work on diabetics, heart patients, cholesterol, hypertension, obesity and expecting mothers. Our consultant dietician is Ms. Anubha Saraogi who has been practising for over a decade and helps us to tailor the menu according to these specific health conditions.

We have everything on our menu from momos, wraps, burgers, chicken nuggets, kebabs, Lebanese Kabsa, pastas and pizzas. However, we only use multigrain, whole wheat, brown rice. Every dressing like mayonnaise is homemade. We don't fry anything, we pan grill or air fry. Even our brownies are whole wheat. We serve an array of detox and healthy beverages. In case, you're a diabetic, you'll just have to tell us, "Hey I want this pasta and I'm a diabetic!". We'll personalise it accordingly. You could even book an appointment with our dietician if you wish.

The journey as an entrepreneur

The outlet started with an initial bank loan of Rs 5 lakh that I procured through my mother. We broke even in November 2016. No Junktion is the most beautiful and life changing experience I've encountered. There is nothing more fulfilling than doing something that you love and more so because it makes a positive impact on someone's life. Entrepreneurship sounded very cool to me before I started, however, today I realise that it is not cool but noble. It is a concoction of a precious vision, limitless passion, sky high ambition, unparalleled consistency, sleepless nights, motivated team, happy customers and some critical feedback. It completely refines you as a person.

Initiating positive change

No Junktion was never a business idea but a need for change. I always knew there was a market, we just needed to awaken it. Initially it was hard because we are stationed right beside Kolkata favourites like Wow! Momo and Kathleen and they serve exactly what people love but over time, now 10 months into the trade, we have carved out our own niche and have a huge repeat customer percentage. This is an indicator that we are on the right track and we are creating our own market. The vision is big, the journey has just started and it's been wonderful. Success is more of a journey and we are on it.

We have just inaugurated our first full-fledged Bistro. We will do a lot more with the menu, broaden the concept and create a classy and inspiring ambience.

Stay hungry stay healthy

We already catered to 400-500 Kolkata foodies who love our quick munchies priced between Rs 85-150. The main courses charged between Rs 170-190 and beverages ranging from Rs 70-90 are also fast picking up. Customers of all age groups patronise us. The age group ranges from 19 years to 65 years. Everyone is looking to have a quick healthy snack because it's a takeaway and has outdoor seating. However, because we have always focused on quality and keeping it extremely healthy and delicious by utilising the freshest and exotic ingredients, precisely why, customers keep coming back and try everything from the quick snacks to main courses. Hygiene is our biggest priority because we deal with food and health food on top of that. Every utensil is sanitised. The outlet undergoes a basic cleaning everyday and a deep cleaning thrice a week.

Healthy is cool

A shift is taking place but it will take some time. People, in general, are attracted to mainstream food and a classy restaurant ambience. There is a notion that healthy food is tasteless, less quantity and hence unattractive. Precisely why, we devised our plan on the concept of "healthy junk" and improvised it on the mainstream items. Thus our tagline: "Get rockin' healthy junks talkin'.” The bistro layout in terms of the menu, concept and ambience can compete with any mainstream restaurants, while keeping our core principles intact.

Every amount you spend at No Junktion is not for us but it's an investment for your own good because health is wealth and its time we value it. We are grateful for every ounce of love and appreciation we've received. The valuable feedbacks have helped us grow. We are expanding only because the responses we've received has been positive and encouraging. Thus, the big plunge this early. Optimum health and fitness is an ongoing pursuit and we promise to stand by you. Trust us, because your health is our passion.
Could you suggest some possible alternatives for junk food? We would love to hear from you.