User:Annabelvaneijk/sandbox/Vinod Gautum

 Vinod Gautum 

Vinod Gautam (born March 1, 1961) is a Belgium businessman and founder of the Gautam Group.

Early life
Born in Karjat, Maharashtra, India, Vinod Gautam was the third child in a family of four children. His father was in the farming business and a teacher, his mother was a housewife and teacher.

He went to school in Karjat and continued studying in Panna, Madhya Pradesh. After finishing high school he travelled around the world through Europe, America and Japan.

The Gautam Group
In 1995 Vinod started in duty-free in Brussels airport, company name Gautam Diamonds. In 1985 Vinod founded the Gautum Group, focused on airport and luxury retail. The group made its start in the diamond trade with Antwerp Diamonds by Gautam and later expanded to other industries. In 1995 they opened their first jewellery store in Brussels followed by 2 airport shops at Brussels Airport in Belgium. Each diamond is hand selected, polished and crafted by certified in-house craftsmen ensuring the creation of quality and exclusive personal designs.

Now a globalised company, operating mostly in Europe but also Japan and the USA, the Gautam Group has expanded into other industries such as chocolates, coffee, real estate and hotels.

In 2004, together with Mr.Darjee Henry, The Gautam Group founded ‘La Belgique Gourmande’, now counting 9 shops in Brussels and Brugge. The Belgium establishment is a gourmet dedicated to traditional Belgium treats, such as exclusive chocolates, waffles, speculoos biscuits, macaroons and more.

The Gautam Group bought Aksum, a coffee roaster specialised in Ethiopian organic coffees. The beans are sourced directly from the Ethiopian coffee regions, without a middle-man in between. All of the coffees are certified by qualified local Q-graders to ensure organic single origin beans. The roasts are sold business to business as well as to consumers. The shop has gained the ‘certificate of excellence’ on Trip Advisor, with a #1 spot on the list of coffee and tea houses in Brussels.

The Gautam Group also owns the Ramada Hotel in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, India. The venue is an award-winning five-star hotel and near the Panna National Park.