The legacy began way back in 1912, much before India got her independence and much before any business rules and regulations were established. It started foreign exchange dealings back in 1912 and with the introduction of Exchange Control in 1939 by RBI, they were the first ones to acquire a license.

The over a century old R R Sen & Bros. Pvt. Ltd (RRSB), India’s oldest forex dealer, is now in the process of diversification, in the hands of its current generation helmsmen. The company is investing Rs 80 crore to roll out a chain of multi-cuisine dining outlets of different formats and another Rs 30 crore to get into the business of mineral water, aerated water, processed food, snacks industry over the next few years. It has recently put up a four-star luxury business hotel in Kolkata, called Orko’ss with a capital outlay of Rs 80 crore.

The group’s passion, over the years, has been finance, hospitality, travel, healthcare, education and it has always believed in horizontal integration and creating synergies, says Orkopaul Sen, Managing Director.

“Our hospitality brand Orko’ss completed 10 years and we have now lined up plans to open at least 20 more dining outlets under the same brand. We also have plans to turn it into a global brand over the next five years or so. Besides, we are planning to invest another Rs 25-30 crore in the near future to get into the business of mineral water, aerated water, processed food, snacks industry. We are looking for a suitable land on the Mumbai-Delhi Highway so that we can set up the factory in the next 1 year or so,” says Sen.

As starter, the company is looking at 10 outlets of Orko’ss restaurants in and around Kolkata, five of which will be company owned while the remaining ones will be franchisee-owned. There will be fine-dining restaurants, quick dining outlets and food kiosks at Food Courts. The company is also focusing on outdoor catering service and bakery products.

Moves are also afoot to come up with another star hotel at Siliguri. The company already owns a star property: Country Inn & Suites by Carlson at Haridwar and Solitude, The Wellness Spa, at Haridwar. Sen says that there are several other projects, which are either in planning stage or are already underway, which include malls, gyms, spas, clubs, office spaces and multiplexes or a combination of some of these across north and east India.

RRSB Forex, the parent company, at present, has 15 branches across the country: 6 in Delhi and NCR, 4 in Kolkata, 2 in Mumbai, and 1 branch each in Bangalore, Bhuwaneshwar and Chennai.