Raeesa and Fhares Girach had an ambitious vision: bring modern fusion cuisine to Highfields, Leicester, through Rae’s Cafe and Deli Ltd, a contemporary café featuring unique Shakopan bread, Japanese-inspired offerings, and innovative takes on traditional English and Indian breakfast cuisine.
By early summer 2025, the husband-and-wife team had secured a property lease and developed initial financial projections, but critical gaps remained. With only three months of restaurant experience between them and no café ownership background, they needed structured operational planning, strategic cost management, and an effective launch strategy.
The NBV Intervention
When NBV’s Business Adviser, Rana Sultan, assessed their plans in June 2025, he implemented targeted interventions across four key areas:
Operational Planning: A practical tape-on-floor exercise optimised the 18-20 seat layout and designed kitchen workflows to prevent service bottlenecks revealing potential issues before permanent fixtures were installed.
Cost Management: Strategic sourcing guidance delivered 40-60% savings on furniture and equipment through auctions and network connections, bulk discounts on specialty ingredients, and cost-effective packaging solutions. The operational mantra became “price everything to the squeeze of the sauce.”
Market Positioning: Systematic competitor analysis of local establishments like Chai Green and Cafe 804 identified differentiation opportunities. Rae’s Cafe positioned their Shakopan bread as a first-to-market Leicester offering, developed Instagram worthy Japanese fusion concepts, and created a minimalist brand aesthetic targeting work from home professionals, local families, and quality-conscious food enthusiasts.
Strategic Marketing: Pre-launch social media activation-built anticipation through “before and after” transformation content. Innovative AR menu codes allowed customers to visualise dishes, a technology-forward approach that differentiated them from traditional competitors. Six-month collaboration agreements with complementary businesses like Butter Brulée created sustained cross-promotional benefits.
Launch Success
Rae’s Cafe successfully opened in September 2025 with streamlined operations, competitive pricing (full English breakfasts at £10-£10.15), and immediate brand differentiation as Leicester’s first Shakopan bread establishment. The AR menu technology and minimalist white aesthetic generated significant social media interest and positioned the café as modern and innovative.
Most importantly, the duo avoided common first-time operator mistakes by delaying delivery operations until core business stability was confirmed and documenting all processes for consistent quality and future scalability.
Looking Ahead
With a solid operational foundation, Raeesa and Fhares are now exploring delivery operations, school contract opportunities, and expanded Japanese-inspired menu offerings based on customer feedback. Their dream of creating a destination café that bridges culinary traditions with contemporary influences is now a thriving Highfields reality.
Business support provided by NBV Enterprise Solutions, funded by Leicester City Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Client Names: Raeesa and Fhares Girach
Business Name: Rae’s Cafe and Deli Ltd
Location: Highfields, Leicester
Launch: August-September 2025