Since ages, food has been an integral part of any occasion or celebration. Good food relishes the joy and complements the happiness of every occasion. Especially the celebrative goods of lip-smacking bakery products of cakes, pastries, doughnuts, nibbles, rolls and many.
People often have faced the challenges of finding the right, hygienic and tasty bakery that could deliver in the right time. Customers at times had to ‘manage’ with some kind of local variety or spend high price and time to get good products.
Looking at the prevailing market trends, one dynamic bakery-entrepreneur, Aavika Chhawchharia, Co-founder, Honey & Dough began her backing venture of offering the best-in-the-class bakery products that were made to suit every occasion.
A friendly neighborhood bakery that offers scrumptious baked goodies, a hot cuppa and toothsome nibbles. Equipped with the latest technologies; it proudly boasts the highest quality and hygiene standards.
Aavika started her professional journey in 2016 with the first outlet in Defence Colony to fulfil the need for a quality bakery that would address the requirements of every customer by being a one-stop shop for a range of products. From ambrosial desserts to appetizing savories, Honey & Dough serves it all. It is a French-inspired patisserie, a venture under horizontal expansion by ANR International Private. Ltd. in its current line of business ANR Foodworks LLP.
In an engaging rendezvous with Insights Success team, Aavika unfolded her professional journey of Honey & Dough, inspirations, initial challenges, her admired qualities and the USPs of her business. She further elaborated with her advice to the young entrepreneurs, challenges countered and her vision for Honey & Dough. The interesting glimpses of the interview are given as under.
Aavika, please tell us about the saga of Honey & Dough since its inception.
Honey & Dough is a French inspired patisserie cum Café concept. It is a venture started in April, 2017, under horizontal expansion of ANR International Pvt Ltd. in its current line of business; ANR Foodworks LLP. A friendly neighborhood bakery-cafe that offers scrumptious baked goodies, a hot cuppa, amazing continental delicacies and toothsome nibbles. Co-founded by Mr. Utsav Chhawchharia and Mrs. Aavika Chhawchharia.
We started with an objective to provide the best and hence our set-up has been extensive and detailed. Our menu has been designed by renowned chefs of the industry, who are behind some of the best brands in the country. We have nine cafes throughout Delhi NCR in prominent locations like Malviya Nagar, Pacific Mall, Vasant Kunj, Pitampura and more.
What was your inspiration behind venturing into the business arena?
Our inspiration was an idea of starting a PAN India chain of Bakery Cafes, as and when we started there were no such brands who were offering both Bakery as well as the Cafe. Even if we talk about just Delhi, it is a huge market but still there are no such brands. This inspiration always motivated us to offer the best products and services at a very reasonable prices and so we are expanding more and planning to go PAN India.
What were the initial challenges that you had to surmount to ensure Honey & Dough’s success rate reached greater heights?
There were many initial challenges, specifically regarding building a team, hiring people, rent a place for the Cafes at a reasonable rent, keeping in mind the target market, competitors and the appropriate locations so as to achieve our goals, but gradually we got a hold on everything. Cooperative team members helped in bridging the gaps of requirements with their polite and prompt services. We kept our communication genuine and honest. Avoiding overcommitments, we clearly discussed the scope of the order and advised the clients with the suitable solutions that matched their celebration requirements.
What professional values and qualities do you think your clients value in you and Honey & Dough, the most?
Our clients value our products and pricing as we offer a huge range of products at the best possible price and the quality. We make everything in-house including the breads, bakery items, our continental menu etc. and prefer serving all fresh items to our customers which they really appreciate. Food is an asset that nourishes and energizes the body. We use assorted material of high quality to prepare top-of-the-class products that help in adding the best eating experience to the customers. Our products are thoughtfully made with good hygiene and quality that suit all the members of the family. Honey & Dough products add a special value to the occasion making the celebration a memorable event.
What are the USPs that highlight Honey & Dough’s uniqueness in the industry you are catering to?
Honey & Dough is the only Bakery Cafe brand which has nine outlets across Delhi NCR which makes us unique. Rest there are some cafes that offer bakery item, but their menu is very limited. Similarly, there are few bakeries that offers other food items but their menu is quite limited, whereas we offer an enormous variety of both Bakery as well as Cafe items. Our café offers a wide variety that meets the customer requirements for any occasion be it a birthday, anniversary, success party or an inauguration.
As an experienced professional, what would you like to advise the budding aspirants willing to enter the business world?
Nothing comes easy in this world, you need to have a vision and work hard to achieve it. Hardwork and consistency have always been the keys to conquer your dreams, prove yourself and achieve what you want in life. Give your best and it will reflect through the taste and the eating experience of the clients. Aim for the client satisfaction as happy customers will refer your business to another ten customers. This is the most reliable and best marketing technique where your honest work will speak for itself.
Food is the most important and enticing aspect of any celebration. People remember the good food they had in a celebration and not the decoration. Be open and clear with your communication with the customers. Listen to them carefully and understand their requirements. Then introduce your offerings with your best suggestions to suit their occasion.
How do you envision Honey & Dough’s operations with the emerging technologies and automated tools that are revolutionizing the business world by enabling innovations?
We update ourselves time to time with various softwares and apps for our Operations, HR and inventory, so that we can focus on other important things. In this modern fast developing world where most of the people use smartphones, we have upgraded our services with the e-commerce solutions to enable the customers in procurement of food orders and supporting with our prompt services.
