Here’s how one MBA graduate walked away from corporate life to fill a gap in Bhubaneswar’s café scene, and how Swiggy became part of building this dream.
Breaking into the F&B industry with zero experience isn’t always a smooth rise. But when a foodie’s frustration meets entrepreneurial conviction, magic can happen. That’s exactly what happened with Abhineet Patnaik when he started his café Ekaiva Bakehouse in Bhubaneshwar in 2024.
While the city had cafés, none offered what he’d experienced in bigger metros – quality continental food, fresh-baked breads, or authentic French flavours. In a city where these tastes were largely unexplored, Abhineet saw potential. Along with his co-founder, Monali Panda, a diploma holder in breads and patisserie from Lavonne Academy of Baking Science and Pastry Arts, he turned this vision into reality by starting Ekaiva Bakehouse.
One year later, that opportunity has blossomed into something special. Ekaiva is now one of Bhubaneswar’s most loved premium cafés and a standout partner on Swiggy. This is a story of good intentions, relentless quality, and finding the right business partner to rise with.
When Conviction Met Croissants
After many years in finance, Abhineet found his passion for the industry waning. It was during this period that he noticed something missing in Bhubaneswar’s café scene. “Travelling to different cities made me realise that food quality differs from one restaurant to another. In Bhubaneswar, all cafés were serving biryani alongside coffee. The essence of a good café was completely missing.”
That one missing link became the foundation for Ekaiva Bakehouse. The name itself, a Sanskrit word meaning ‘the one’, reflects their ambition. “We wanted to be the one in whatever we do. One is the beginning, and that’s something we believe in,” adds Abhineet, who decided to partner with Monali.But beginnings tested that conviction. After registering in November 2022, disputes arose when the building’s electricity supply couldn’t handle their equipment. “For the first time, I got involved with police and legal notices. But I do believe that when you have good intentions, the universe has a habit of rewarding you, and the owner of the building eventually agreed to install a transformer that solved the electricity supply,” he says.
Then, in February 2024, Ekaiva Bakehouse finally opened its doors!
From day one, the philosophy was simple: no compromises on quality. They ensured that by sourcing only top-quality ingredients. While most restaurants use compound chocolates, Ekaiva sources couverture chocolates – premium quality chocolate . They procure 100 to 150 kilograms monthly, making them Odisha’s largest buyer. Their cheese travels from Surat, and the flour comes from near Pathankot, which is chosen specifically for its gluten composition.
“We make our bread ourselves. No third party supplies anything to us. People might come once or twice for ambience, but if customers visit you more than 20 times, and we do have many like that, it’s because of food quality,” explains Abhineet, who handles operations, marketing, and finance, while Monali manages the kitchen.
In their first financial year, the 40-seater café generated approximately two crore in revenue.
With dine-in success established, the next frontier was clear: reaching customers beyond the café walls.
Strategy Infused with Fresh-Baked Passion
While the dine-in popularity soared, delivery presented untapped potential. A few months after opening, Ekaiva onboarded with Swiggy as an exclusive merchant. “Swiggy understood our positioning from the start and gave us constant market feedback,” says Abhineet.
When Upasana Mohapatra, Swiggy’s Account Manager, started working on the brand in June 2024, she brought fresh strategic thinking. “Working with the Ekaiva team has been wonderful. There’s genuine energy and openness in every conversation we have,” says Upasana.
One opportunity stood out immediately, which was late-night delivery. “Bhubaneswar’s late-night scene was dominated by national chains. We extended Ekaiva’s slots on weekends, and it worked well,” says Upasana. The decision stemmed from thinking like customers first.
Another strategic shift improved menu-to-order conversion. “Given Ekaiva’s high average order value between 550 to 650 rupees, traditional discounting wasn’t viable. We experimented with a freebie offer that stood out on Ekaiva’s menu thumbnail on the app. It worked exceptionally well for conversion rates,” says Upasana.
The Swiggy-Ekaiva partnership thrives on regular touchpoints. “We meet monthly to discuss growth plans where Upasana shares comprehensive reports. Swiggy recently updated its dashboard, which has made accessing and analysing data much more efficient,” says Abhineet.
“We also address operational challenges together. Because Ekaiva bakes everything fresh, preparation time tends to be higher. Their Swiggy Bolt contribution is currently around one per cent, and we’re working on adding quick-prep items to increase this,” adds Upasana.
With operations becoming smooth, Abhineet’s focus shifted to something bigger.
Dreaming Bigger than Croissants
The future holds exciting possibilities. “In October, we opened two quick-service restaurants which follow a hub-and-spoke model. The QSRs will focus on serving croissants paired with coffee in five to six minutes. There are currently no croissant chains in India, and that’s an opportunity,” says Abhineet. By next year, expansion plans include tier-two cities like Ranchi, Raipur, and Vizag.
“I’m looking forward to leveraging Swiggy Bolt to reach customers faster with our QSR model,” he adds. Beyond expansion, they plan to host hands-on baking classes. “It’s about giving back to the community that is supporting us.”
Reflecting on advice for budding entrepreneurs, Abhineet shares, “Starting a business requires a leap of faith, but it’s about being resilient, not reckless. When challenges arise, your determination and problem-solving mindset will pull you through. Never lose sight of who matters most: your customers. Their support makes everything possible. Our role as entrepreneurs is to listen, adapt, and serve them well.”
For over a year, Ekaiva Bakehouse has filled Bhubaneswar’s café scene with the aroma of fresh coffee, croissants, and authentic French pastries. As the brand continues to rise in ways as unique as its vision, here’s wishing their journey only gets “butter” from here!
Author Bio
Swiggy Editorial is a team of writers who work with the company's Employer Branding team.
