In the heart of the city, where the scent of fresh pastries mingles with the bustling streets, a small, cozy home bakery has become a beloved local gem in Bengaluru. Introducing to you Aditi, a talented and passionate baker whose journey from hobbyist to entrepreneur is as delightful as her desserts. Aditi's journey into the world of baking started at a young age. Originally, she was on a path to pursue Kathak dance professionally. However, at just eight years old, she began baking as a way to clear her mind and relax. Despite her school not recognizing her various talents, Aditi found a supportive environment after changing schools, where she actively participated in various events, while also bringing her baked goods and receiving immense appreciation. As she continued to bring more baked goods and share with her fellow mates, she thought to herself why not change this into a business.
Aditi later pursued her culinary education at Manipal which proved to be a pivotal experience crafting her baking career. Her culinary education has definitely helped pave way to meet more people from the industry, learn and perfect her skills. Aditi shares that a culinary education is mandatory and will not go a waste if one wants to excel in the field, as it involves a lot of practical exposure. She thrived in "Simulations," a mock restaurant setup where students created menus and served seven-course meals to paying customers. This hands-on experience taught her the intricacies of the culinary world and the importance of teamwork.
Her passion for baking, influenced by role models like Nigella Lawson, Vinesh Johny (Founder of Lavonne cafe), and Chef Dina from SAPA Bakery, inspired her to experiment and perfect her craft. She noticed that not many places offered the perfect brownies in Bengaluru. Either the brownies were too dry or too soft but not perfectly fudgy. And so she started "Wallflour bakehouse" her little home bakery, where she mostly made brownies and choco chip cookies. Aditi makes nearly 150 brownies a day and dispatches them. Aditi shares that, in baking one should stick to focusing on precision with measurements, while experimenting with flavors. And so did she, Aditi's brownie variations have ranged from Bourn Vita, Nutella, walnut, red velvet to Biscoff, Oreo, and Maltesers brownies.
Having worked for 2 different companies before fully focussing on her home bakery, Aditi had gained a lot of knowledge from networking, inspiration from chefs, database of customers and various recipes to experiment with. Once she quit her job and focused more towards her home bakery "Wallflour bakehouse", like everyone else Aditi too had some challenges marketing her baked goods and finding customers. By setting up stalls at local events and leveraging delivery services like Dunzo and Swiggy, Aditi expanded her customer base. Her typical day at the bakery starts at 9am checking for orders via emails and messages. She then proceeds to baking the accepted orders. She has 24 hour notice for orders at the bakery. At around 1pm is Aditi's lunch break during which her baked goods are let to cool down. She then proceeds to pack and dispatch the orders from 2pm to 3pm. After which she accepts new orders and prepares for the next batch of baking which gets ready for dispatch the next day.
Finding customers and marketing products initially proved difficult, but she overcame these hurdles by participating in events and seeking constructive criticism to improve her recipes. Heartwarming feedback from customers, such as an old customer wanting her baked goods one last time before moving to Australia, motivates her and fills her with pride. Aditi plans to scale her business by opening a cloud kitchen, offering beverages and baked goods, and partnering with kombucha and beverage businesses. Her best-selling items, like Choco chip cookies and fudgy brownies, have garnered a loyal customer base. She dreams of hiring a team to handle administrative tasks, allowing her to focus on her passion for baking.
Aditi has also gone on several food tours across India and even Singapore and Malaysia. Aditi's favorite restaurants, such as Americano in Mumbai and Bombay Canteen, inspire her with their exceptional food and service. She keeps up with the latest culinary trends by subscribing to e-magazines and attending industry events, where she gains valuable insights from renowned chefs.
Aditi's journey from a young girl passionate about baking to a successful entrepreneur is a true inspiration. Her story is a reminder that with passion, perseverance, and a little bit of sweetness, one can turn a hobby into a thriving business.
Make sure to check out "Wallflour Bakehouse" here and order some of her very famous Bournvita brownies :)
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