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Scripting success, together
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What do you need to run a good bakery? Lots of dedication and some good competition, say this couple.
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THE NAME, Ambrosia, doesn't leave much to imagination, at least not for folks in the city. A landmark in its own right, the bake-house at Bakery Junction has become the haunt of the young and the old alike.
The brainchild of the couple, Vinod and Cuckoo, the outlet will turn nine the coming April.
Started at a time when the word, bakery, was synonymous with shops selling puffs, laddoos and jalebis, and a lot many things found at the neighbourhood provision store, Ambrosia has brought in a metropolitan feel to the `bakery' culture. No longer are croissants, pizzas or chocolate mousse something seen on visits outside the State or in Hollywood movies. They can be had right in your backyard.
But the road to success has been long and hard. Except for some short-term courses, Vinod and Cuckoo had no formal training in hotel management. The only edge they had was Vinod's experience in running the family business -- again a bakery - in Punalur. "Visits outside the State and abroad, however, had given us a clear picture of what we wanted. A market survey showed a lot of potential for such a joint in Thiruvananthapuram," says Cuckoo. And before long, the dream had turned into a reality. Ambrosia began with 16 seats.
The stumbling block were many. Hurdles such as lack of power connection did not endear Ambrosia to many customers."We worked the generator non-stop for three months," recollects Vinod. A lot of criticism also came their way. "Criticism, viewed positively, does a lot good," says Cuckoo. "There were also customers who encouraged us a lot. They would fill in our suggestion cards with tips on improving quality of food and service." Raw material had to be brought from outside the city. "We had to go around scouring for ingredients. Even now, olives, oregano, thyme, rosemary and basil are imported."
Finding skilled labour was no mean task. "They just would not stick around for long. The onus for arranging food and accommodation for such a large group was also on us," says Cuckoo. It's only now that they have a dedicated team of 60 hands working under them full-time. In the festive season, the number goes up to 80. "The staff is really the force behind our success. They are very supportive and always there in times of crises. And during the festive season, they work throughout the night just to keep up with the orders."
Only with time have things improved for Vinod and Cuckoo. "We gradually began to change the menu at regular intervals and include more dishes." They also started counters at Food World, Style Plus and Park Field Gardens. Their expansion plans suffered a setback, however, when the counters at Style Plus and Park Field Gardens wound up. "Overheads in such a business are very high. But the turnover at these places could not match up/keep pace with the investment," says Vinod.
But never the ones to be bogged down by circumstances, the couple plan to open yet another outlet at Kaudiar, soon. The outlet, they say, will also have a chaat corner. A plan to shift the cake business, which brings a chunk of their revenue, to another location is also on the cards. "During Christmas and New Year, we are forced to shut down the restaurant to cater to the demand for cakes. Once the cake business shifts elsewhere, the restaurant can continue to function at Bakery Junction."
Asked whether competition from the big restaurant chains who may set up business here in the future worries them, the couple replies in the negative. "Competition, we believe, is healthy. We will strive to change the fare on offer and go in for more variety."
Their clientele comprises people of all age groups. "College-goers frequent the joint in the mornings. Entire families flock here at evenings and late evenings is the time when IT guys from Technopark come," says Cuckoo.
The difference between Ambrosia's then and now is palpable, the couple say. "We, and our kids, Gauri and Rishi, have sacrificed at lot to reach where we are. Yet, we enjoyed every bit of it, not just because it gives us money. We have earned a lot of goodwill and found new friends. This helps us remain young at heart," they say.
R. K. ROSHNI
Photo: K. G. Santthosh
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
Visakhapatnam
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