Babista of the S group is Finland’s newest kebab restaurant, which is planned to grow into a chain.
The kebab restaurants of the S group also have a kebab skewer. The picture is not from the Babista restaurant. Adobe Stock / AOP
Kebab has become a hit in recent years, which has also been noticed in the S group. The first S group kebab restaurant opened in Mikkeli in the summer, the next in November in Jumbo in Vantaa and in February in Vaasa. The goal is to grow into a chain of 20 Babista restaurants in a couple of years.
Director of SOK’s nutrition business Juha Helminen states that the S group also wants to be part of the kebab trend, so they quickly developed a new restaurant concept.
– We want to offer our customers the opportunity to have a kebab in a more restaurant-like and cozy environment, where you can sit a little longer. There aren’t many of those available in Finland. Similar restaurants have opened in Denmark and Sweden in recent years, says Helminen.
Akseli Herlev and Iman Gharagozlud’s Dif döner has five kebab restaurants, the northernmost of which is in Oulu. Rosa Bröijer
Almost every Finnish city has a kebab restaurant, but Helminen does not consider this a bad thing. According to him, the S group brings its own part to the offer.
According to some, chain restaurants have a reputation for cheap and not so good quality food.
– In our opinion, the chain means, at best, a guarantee of quality. The customer knows what he is getting. There are no big kebab chains in Finland, but more individual restaurants. Everyone has a role to play.
Babista lacks one attraction of a traditional kebab restaurant: a kebab roll.
– We saw that kebab rolls are not offered in a restaurant-like setting, Helmine explains.
However, he states that whether the kebab roll will be considered again depends on customer feedback. Instead of a kebab roll, the menu includes, for example, kebab bread, or naan bread, and kebab with vegetables and herbs. The prices of portions are from 9.90 euros to 15 euros.
Perniö kebab has been in operation for 27 years. Roni Lehti
Helminen emphasizes the importance of high-quality raw materials. Domestic kebab meat comes from Snellmann and its spices are designed by SOK’s product development. Every Babista has an authentic kebab skewer, from which the meat is cut separately for each portion. You can also get vegan vöner from Babista.
The Finnish restaurant market is smaller compared to other Nordic countries, and restaurant consumption per person is at a lower level in Finland, but according to Helminen, it has been growing all along.
– The restaurant market has developed enormously. ABC has been an option that fills one need. Our purpose is to constantly bring new ideas to the market. We want to be part of the growth.