Jibran Khan’s entrepreneurial journey is a story of failure, learning, and starting again with a clearer vision.
From Losing ₹10 Lakh to Building a ₹8.4 Crore Food Business: The Story of Jibran Khan
Jibran Khan’s entrepreneurial journey is a story of failure, learning, and starting again with a clearer vision.
His first venture began in 2015 when he started a tourism business and brought around 350 tourists to Gurez Valley. But the business faced a major setback when tourism activities came to a halt during the 2016 unrest in Kashmir. Jibran lost nearly ₹10 lakh.
Instead of giving up, he decided to learn from the experience.
He spent two years working in Dubai’s hospitality industry. This gave him practical knowledge of restaurant operations, customer service, and professional hospitality. When he returned to Kashmir, he noticed an opportunity that was largely being ignored.
While Srinagar had several dining options, smaller towns had very few places offering a quality restaurant experience.
In 2018, Jibran decided to build a brand around this gap. He launched Zero Miles Grill and Cafe in Sopore with an initial investment of ₹14 lakh. Around ₹6 lakh came from his own savings, while another ₹8 lakh was contributed by his cousin and co-founder, Javaid Ahmad.
The idea was simple: bring a better dining experience to customers outside Kashmir’s major urban centres.
The journey was not always smooth.
Soon after opening an outlet in Bandipora, the COVID-19 lockdown in 2019 and the restrictions that followed disrupted business operations. Jibran had to rebuild the business while also managing a growing team and multiple outlets.
But the challenges did not stop Zero Miles from expanding.
Today, the brand has grown to 9 outlets with around 120 employees. It serves nearly 1,300 customers every day and has recorded around ₹8.4 crore in annual revenue.
One of the interesting things about Zero Miles is its focus on local identity. Each outlet is designed to reflect the character and history of the town where it operates. The interiors include elements inspired by local culture, important places, and notable personalities.
Jibran also chose a different growth strategy. Instead of competing directly with established restaurants in Srinagar, Zero Miles focused on smaller towns where customers had fewer choices.
Customer experience became one of the brand’s biggest marketing tools. Rather than depending heavily on large advertising budgets, the business focused on quality food, hospitality, and word-of-mouth recommendations.
The company has also adopted a franchise-led expansion model. This allows Zero Miles to enter new markets without operating every outlet directly.
Now, the vision is much bigger.
The company plans to expand to more cities across Jammu and Kashmir before entering major Indian markets. It is also exploring new formats such as quick-service restaurants, cloud kitchens, and express outlets.
Jibran Khan’s story shows that one failed business does not have to define an entrepreneur.
A ₹10 lakh loss became a lesson. That lesson became experience. And that experience helped build a food brand that now has 9 outlets, 120 employees, and around ₹8.4 crore in annual revenue.
Sometimes, the biggest success stories begin with a setback.
