Mast Banarasi Paan: How a small paan shop became India’s biggest modern paan brand? How Mast Banarasi Paan completely changed the image of paan? Why is this paan brand becoming increasingly popular among young customers?
Mast Banarasi Paan Success Story: Paan has been a part of pujas, festivals, marriages and everyday life in our country. But for a long time, paan shops were just small kiosks, where not much attention was paid to cleanliness or the customer experience of today. This is where ‘Mast Banarasi Paan’ decided to change the story. The headquarters of this company, which was started in the year 2016, is in Noida. This transformed paan from being just an after-meal snack into a modern, café-style dessert. Today the brand sells around one lakh paan every day in more than 320 cities across 20 states in India.
Who are its founders and what is the story of the company?
Company founder and CEO P.N. Thakur saw an opportunity in a market that most people were ignoring. Thakur has an MBA in Marketing and International Business from Banaras Hindu University and started his career with Hindustan Times. His understanding of branding and customer behavior later played a key role in building the company’s identity.
According to the company’s story, the idea came from seeing paan shops across India. He saw that this industry has remained the same for years, there has been no change in it. Its reach was limited due to misconceptions about paan, old style of presentation and lack of hygiene. Before starting the company in 2016, Thakur worked on research and development for about three years. Their aim was simple: to make paan cleaner, family-friendly and contemporary while maintaining its traditional taste.
What makes it different?
The biggest decision of the company was to sell 100% tobacco-free paan. This one step changed the entire image of Paan for many customers. Now it started looking like a dessert rather than something related to tobacco. Unlike traditional paan shops, Mast Banarasi Paan offered a streamlined café-style setup where people of all ages could enjoy paan in a hygienic environment.
Apart from this, the company also expanded its menu. Paan available here ranges from ₹30 to ₹100 for general customers, while paan up to ₹2,100 is also available for weddings and special occasions. Its products soon became popular among young consumers who seek new food experiences.
Over time, the brand expanded rapidly through the franchise model. Today it has more than 400 outlets across the country. Additionally, the company also expanded its presence in urban markets by partnering with food delivery platforms like Swiggy and Zomato. Apart from retail stores, the company also caters for private and corporate events, further expanding its customer base.
Under Thakur’s leadership, Mast Banarasi Paan has transformed from a small paan company to a large, organized retail brand that blends traditional Indian flavors with modern branding and customer service.