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Sweet specialty

By Hilla Guzder · September 7, 2013
"Our business Brownie Chocolates was conceived in 1980 when my mother Katty had just finished schooling. She started it as a hobby by making chocolates for friends and family, taking small orders of around one kilogram and would pack them in small elegant boxes made by her," says Kainaz Wadia of Bombay. Commending her commitment, Katty’s parents Ruttanshaw and Aloo Bhathena encouraged her hobby till it turned into a profession and the next generation stepped in as well!

(Clockwise from top left): Homi, Katty,

Frayosh and Kainaz Wadia
"In our case my whole family — mum, dad Homi, myself and my younger brother Frayosh — are very much into the business. I also work with Dr Beramji at Beramji’s Hospital and my employers have become an integral part of the business with their positive support in various ways, by granting me leave for my exhibitions, etc," Kainaz declares. Seeking to use the best quality ingredients, she explored the market for different types of chocolate and their dealers and distributors. "Worried about manipulation in quality I thought of importing it directly from Belgium. Undoubtedly our products are really special as they are made from one of the purest sources — dark Belgian chocolate. Exclusive designer bites are processed in a tempering machine and then molded into different shapes and sizes or are enrobed," she explains. Their specialties, she notes, are the chocolate Taj Mahal, big or small horseshoe, chocolate boi and laughing Buddha, carved from extra dark, dark, milk, white or sugar free chocolate. Crunchy dark almond rocks and almond chocolate truffles are in their platter of products.

Assortment of chocolate delicacies

Clients order the chocolates as corporate gifts, wedding and birthday giveaways, to accompany birth announcements, etc and are even sent abroad, she informs us. "As a symbol of love, we have supplied many ‘Taj Mahals’ to newly married couples or about to be married ones. We also supply well-known fast food corners." The products are regularly displayed and sold at exhibitions, like the annual exhibition at Allbless Baug by Frohar Foundation, events at Cama Baug, Khareghat Colony, Cusrow Baug, Dadar’s Palamkote Hall, etc. "We recently conducted a very informative workshop at Malhar 2013, the annual fest of St Xavier’s College where several colleges participate. Our Belgian bites were appreciated by the entire Grand Masti (film) team of Bollywood actors Vivek Oberoi, Aftab Shivdasani, Riteish Deshmukh and others when they came to Malhar," she notes. In this competitive industry, there are times "when people actually copy your signature product or try to inferiorize the quality of the chocolate. But I am proud to say that our chocolates are tested and licensed under FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India). Products are priced from Rs 10 to Rs 2,000 and above. "We don’t retail online. We sell at exhibitions and events and take orders as we believe in supplying fresh stock to our clients. We are soon going to come out with different gift hampers to suit one’s budget. As for me I am very much attached to this business as it has the personal touch of my parents and grandparents," asserts the young lady.

Katty can be contacted on 9833564082.

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