Born in the Mayan civilization and worshipped as ‘God food,’ (cocoa is a Mayan word that translates as ‘God food’) chocolate has come a long way and now into the Indian homes as businesses. We thought we will give all the chocoholics out there a little Friendship’s day treat with a few chocolate businesses in the country.
Five Pods Chocolates
Founder: Lekha Mohan
Year: December 2011, Supported by the five pods (her family), this startup makes chocolates for chocolate lovers
Reason for starting up: “As any child, I was fascinated with and loved chocolates. I have attended chocolate fairs and festivals in London (during my Masters study in Nottingham), visited various boutique chocolate shops and interacted with different chocolatiers from around Europe. However, it is not the same in India, where there is almost an absence of artisan and boutique chocolatiers.
USP: Developing exciting and innovative chocolates using a lot of natural ingredients like natural vanilla, orea bites, mint etc.
Price Range: Chocolates are available from Rs. 125 and go up to Rs. 300 for 100 grams of chocolates. The liquor/liqueur filled chocolate, truffles, marzipans and other premium flavours are on the higher end of the price spectrum.
Delivery system: The chocolates are couriered to the customers or they pick it up from Five Pods Chocolates.
Marketing: They are currently listed on 8-10 websites that provide an online marketplace for crafts/handmade products. Two general goods stores carry their chocolates. In addition, they also receive retail and wholesale orders apart from the corporate orders (for gifting) directly through word of mouth, social media, personal contacts and networks.
Vision: To offer unique chocolates to the Indian chocoholics and to permeate into the Indian chocolate market as a premium brand that promotes healthy consumption of chocolates by introducing organic chocolates to India.
For more information, take a look at Five Pods Chocolate
Choco Philla
Founder: Keerthi
Year: 2010
Reason for starting up: With lot of time in her hand after her job as RJ in a well known Radio Station in Chennai, she decided to startup with a chocolate business. “While discussing my chocolate business idea with one of my close friends Anu, she without a second thought gave me her first order and that’s when it all started,” says Keerthi, Founder, Choco Philla.
USP: Made to order fresh chocolates and not stocked.
Price Range: Chocolate Philla prides itself at being completely affordable.
Delivery system: For people in Chennai, they do door deliveries if they require them to be delivered. They also have a tie up with a product delivery company that delivers their products across the world.
Marketing: Social networks, SMS marketing and word of mouth works the best we say. “If customers love your products you can stop thinking of how you have to market your customers will take care,” says Keerthi, Founder Choco Philla.
Vision: Become the welcome sweet or desert at occasions like parties, weddings and anniversaries
For more information, take a look at Choco Philla
Exotica Chocolates
Founder: Meena Bhagia
Year: 2011
Reason for starting up: “Though my son was fond of chocolates, he couldn’t eat them due to Doctor’s instructions. Seeing him crying, I made a resolution that I will make my own chocolates that are pure, hygienic and free from any chemicals that are harmful to health,” says Meena Bhagia, Founder, Exotica Chocolates. The passion/dedication to create best chocolates for her son led her to start her own Chocolate business.
USP: 100% handcrafted chocolates without harmful preservatives as they make them fresh after receiving an order by customer without using harmful colors and essence. To enhance and develop specified flavor they use original and fresh grounded spices. They have a secret recipe that keeps the chocolates eatable for six months.
Delivery system: The chocolates are shipped through well known logistic provider like Bluedart, Fedex and Firstflight.
Marketing: Their products are marketed through word of mouth, Facebook, discount sites like Timesdeal, www.snapdeal.com and websites dedicated to promote handcrafted creation – craftsvilla, Itshandmade, craffts.com, indiebazaar.com, unwrapindia, shopo.in etc. They also have an online shopping portal to market and sell their chocolates – http://www.exoticachocolatesonline.com/
Pricing: The chocolates start from Rs 25
Vision: To establish Exotica chocolates as the World class Brand and World class Chocolatier business.
For more information, take a look at Exotica Chocolates