Hey Tribe,

Apologies for not being able to update straight after the crowdfunder deadline date but here are some more updates from us:
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• The crowdfunder finished at £2075 with 37 supporters.
  
  
• We found out this week that the campaign is still running on the website and this is what crowdfunder said ‘With all projects on the Pay It Forward platform, once you’ve closed the project it will remain on what we call “Forever Funding”. This basically means your page will stay on the site to accept Donation Only pledges. This will be paid out to you on a regular basis and you won’t need to honour any rewards or anything. It’s just a way for people to help out if they so choose!
  
  

It’s a really nice gesture on their part. Here is what we will do as a company. We will honour all future donations in return for any of the rewards we had when we were running the campaign. So do let us know what rewards you would like when we contact you J.
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• We have already delivered 20 out of 37 supporters with their rewards. We are looking forward to delivering each and every reward from our supporters.
  
  
• Have we managed to survive? – So far so good. We have opened and are delivering ready to heat ‘Meals for 2’ Banjaraa style Indian inspired food with free delivery in and around Peterborough, UK. The local support has been amazing and the feedback on our food has been aWeSoMe so far. We are just trying to reach a certain level of weekly orders to help us sustain for the next few months. Currently, we are delivering every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
  
  
• Private bookings : We have also delivered a few private food deliveries such as for a 40th and a 50th Birthday celebration. Thank you for having us as a part of your #lockdowncelebrations
  
  
• Deli ?: Well Ajay loves creating the ‘deli menu’ items every week and we are getting great feedback from our regular and new customers! It will work – That we know! We are going to start looking around for a location – just a small kitchen to start with!
  
  
• #payitforward : Please email us any stories of people local to Peterborough and surrounding villages, who have gone above and beyond helping our locals. We would love to pick one individual from ‘your’ stories and deliver them a ‘Banjaraa’ Mealfor2 on the house – quietly! It’s about them and NOT about us this time! Email all stories with subject #payitforward to [email protected]
  
  

That’s it for now folks! We will keep updating this page until each and every reward has been honoured.
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Mind you Ajay has to stop tasting his food – the social pictures show he has put on some weight but then would you trust a skinny chef? (as they say!) J J.

Banjaraa owner Ajay Sabharwal, famous for his orange horsebox at local events has been forced to close his business during the lockdown. Along with many other event & outside catering businesses, it is heartbreaking to see all the hard work and determination put into their business to be forced to close overnight and many of their summer events cancelled.

Banjaraa now in its second full year of business was set to have the best year yet, fully booked throughout summer. Events included Burghley fine food markets, St Botolph’s on the green, Baston car show, Bourne festival, Langtoft music festival, Rockingham festival, Oundle food festival, Cambridge festival and private bookings for weddings and corporate events.

Ajay spent many hours researching the Crowdfunding initiative and whether it could work for his business to get him through the lockdown and help towards keeping the company afloat.

Crowdfunder is creating a new way of working for companies with 100% free crowdfunding during the coronavirus crisis as a part of their #payitforward campaign.

Ajay’s solution is to offer great rewards that people can use in the future, including fantastic offers on Banjaraa’s fat boy Indian wraps by rewarding people with savings on the regular price.

Ajay has also come up with a reward which can be used during this lockdown period where he will teach you how to make the perfect masala. There are some great options for prospective private and corporate clients too. Once this is all over, the corporates might want to thank their employees or customers. This is where Banjaraa can step in – bringing their horsebox to the workplace and serving awesome wraps and rice boxes.

Ajay said: “2020 was set to be our biggest year yet. We were fully booked across multiple events throughout the summer and had begun to scout locations for our new permanent base, the Banjaraa deli. The rapid spread and subsequent lockdown due to this crisis have decimated our income stream, and it’s just been heartbreaking! We are not looking for charity, but assistance to get us through this uncertain and difficult period. As soon as we are fully operational, we will share with you how we intend to pay forward the kindness we’ve received. This is going to be something extra from us and will involve food.”

So far, Banjaraa has had a great start with over 10% of the target already achieved on day one from his local fans and friends. May be crowdfunding with giving rewards is one of the solutions for small businesses who cannot get help exactly when it is needed and who have slipped through the support available.

Whichever reward people choose will directly contribute to Banjaraa weathering this storm. If people can help in purchasing rewards, this will help Ajay sustain Banjaraa over this period. There is no expiry date on the rewards Banjaraa will be paid forward.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/banjaraa-needs-your-support

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www.banjaraa.co.uk

Enquiries:
Please contact Ajay Sabharwal on 07557793973 or email: [email protected]
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www.banjaraa.co.uk

About Banjaraa

Banjaraa was created from a desire to share authentic Indian Street food with people. The food Ajay had always cooked for his family and friends. In 3 years, the business has grown from limited home delivery to the quirky horsebox. In 2019 through just sheer hard work and serving one awesome wrap at a time, Ajay landed many key events, including the Burghley House Fine Food market. Additionally, they were nominated by the local community for the Peterborough Small Business Awards, becoming finalists in the Hospitality category.