The food and beverage industry thrives on innovation and accessibility, yet for decades, it seems to have lacked a practical, affordable solution to help budding entrepreneurs enter this market. The dream of owning a food business comes with hefty costs, risks and limited mobility.
Puneet Anand and his company Azimuth recognized this unmet need and transformed the landscape by introducing state-of-the-art mobile setups, namely – food trucks, trendy trailers, street food carts and mobile kiosks.
The name Azimuth, derived from a maritime term that signifies direction, reflects the company’s mission of moving forward with purpose. Puneet Anand, a seasoned master mariner, drew inspiration from his 20 years at sea to create a business that has become synonymous with innovation and mobility.
His maritime career, which included overseeing shipbuilding projects, laid the foundation for Azimuth’s meticulous approach to design, material management and safety.
“When embarking on any new business venture, having a clear goal and direction is paramount” Puneet shares.
This principle guided him in naming the company Azimuth Business on Wheels, a name that captures its vision and ambition.
India’s street food culture was always dominated by rusty yellow Chinese vans or make do cart structures. This field was ripe for transformation. During his travels overseas, Puneet was fascinated by the clean, vibrant street food trucks and cart culture that offered diverse cuisine with minimal costs. Recognizing the untapped potential in his own country’s street food market, he envisioned a modern, hygienic and organized approach to mobile food businesses.
Interestingly, Puneet Anand had started his journey by launching his very own food trucks way back in 2016. Within a year, he was able to expand to a fleet of six food trucks – each receiving overwhelming customer response. However, after facing challenges in manufacturing quality of such trucks, he realized and saw a significant gap in India’s mobile manufacturing industry. This gave birth to the idea of Azimuth, a company dedicated to creating innovative models for business on wheels.
Azimuth Business on Wheels specializes in crafting tailored mobile solutions, from compact street vending carts to custom three-wheelers, from humble tata ace food trucks to expansive 40-foot custom food trailers. While the food and beverage sector remains a core focus, Azimuth has expanded its portfolio to include QSR trailer, retail/FMCG trucks and container set ups, marketing experiential vans, mobile clinics, kiosks, pet grooming vans and even mobile caravans. Each project laser focused on commitment to innovation, functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Puneet’s maritime background influenced Azimuth’s rigorous design and safety standards. The company employs a meticulous process that includes concept brainstorming, 2D and 3D layouts,blueprints of work plans of interiors of these vehicles and adherence to stringent safety checks. The result is a range of visually stunning, high-performing vehicles that captivate customers and meet diverse business needs.
Beyond the manufacturing industry, the company aims to add to the entrepreneurial spirit across India – by offering affordable, modern and hygienic food carts, food vans, trailers and trucks which lowers entry barriers for aspiring entrepreneurs. These mobile solutions provide flexibility, reduce overhead costs, limited investment and the mobility factors helps businesses reach wider audiences. In a dynamic economy where real estate costs are escalating, Azimuth’s business-on-wheels concept has proven to be a game-changer for many startups and established brands.
Few months back, in 2024 – to cater to the surging demand for affordable food business solutions, Azimuth launched Smart Wheel Concepts, a new vertical that solely focuses on durable, smart and cost effective, low budget street food carts. Smart Wheels was conceived to enable people from all walks of life to try their hand at the food business – whether it’s serving piping hot momos, brewing aromatic coffee or dishing out delightful sweets. These thoughtfully designed carts offer a low-cost entry point into the world of food entrepreneurship — a world that has always been enticing for its creativity, community and potential for growth.
Main idea behind Smart Wheels is to encourage business ideas, employment and make entrepreneurship an achievable dream across India – thereby also adding to the ‘Make in India’ theme of our country.
“We believe every business can benefit from having a mobile wing,” says Puneet. “Mobility gives operators the flexibility to target their audience effectively, whether it’s a simple momo cart or an ice cream truck or a FMCG/retail trailer.”
With over 600 brands served and manufacturing units in Noida, Tamil Nadu, and Goa, Azimuth is expanding to meet rising demand. New units in Jabalpur and Kolkata are underway, alongside growing international projects. “Having already served a few global clients, we’re set to expand our footprint further this year, delivering innovative mobile solutions worldwide, ” said Puneet.
However, the journey hasn’t been without challenges. Puneet Highlights the need for clear policies governing food trucks and mobile businesses which is tantamount to growth of India’s F&B sector in the coming years. “Conducive norms for licensing and vehicle operations are absolutely essential for the industry’s growth,” he asserts. Despite such hurdles, Puneet remains optimistic about the future of mobile business solutions in India.
For aspiring entrepreneurs and especially Food entrepreneurs, Puneet Anand offers lessons he follows personally: “Any new concept, if it addresses an existing problem – can succeed with persistence, patience and perseverance. Focus on your vision, remain adaptable, learn from mistakes and simply trust the process.”
