Uncover how Bikash Babu Sweets emerged as a thriving brand in Kerala’s rich culinary landscape, along with Swiggy’s role in this flavourful journey.
Breaking into the F&B industry, especially in the culinary-rich region of Kerala, isn’t always a sweet ride. But when passion meets opportunity, no challenge is too big. In 2012, Amit Sarkar sensed potential in the idea of introducing authentic North Indian sweets to Kerala, where his family had spent more than three decades. Along with his brother, Sourabh Sarkar, Amit made this a reality by starting Bikash Babu Sweets in Ernakulam.
What began as a small sweet shop 12 years ago has now become a beloved brand synonymous with Indian sweets and snacks. With 18 outlets across Kerala, the taste and fame of Bikash Babu Sweets continue to grow. Here’s a story of blending tradition with innovation, made sweeter with support from Swiggy’s Akshay Kurian.
From humble beginnings to sweet success
Entering the culinary landscape with no prior F&B experience, Amit faced his fair share of challenges in the initial years. “The main roadblocks lay in sourcing authentic raw ingredients and hiring the right team,” says Amit, who paved the way for Bikash Babu Sweets with smart calculations and a whole lot of guts.
“For certain dairy products such as Paneer, the characteristics of milk can vary by region – like in Kerala, where soil and climate conditions lead to a taste different from that in the North,” adds Amit, who gradually built a strong network allowing him to source the required ingredients from relevant regions.
“If someone tastes our dishes, say Punjabi Chole for example, they will find something unique even if they tried similar delicacies elsewhere. This is because we use homegrown spices instead of readymade masalas, and the difference shows,” says Amit.
“I am not proficient in cooking, but I proactively give feedback to my team on using the right combination of flavours, allowing us to have streamlined processes and systems in place,” explains Amit, who handles the marketing and day-to-day operations, while his wife, Neelima takes care of the finance and HR aspects.
“These processes ensure no two sweets taste the same at Bikash Babu Sweets. Like for five varieties of Peda, each has something unique to offer,” he says.
Apart from sweets like Motichoor Laddoo and Gulab Jamun, Bikash Babu Sweets is also famous for snacks and dishes like Punjabi Samosa and Chole Bhature. The brand also supplies its flagship Malai Paneer to around 80 hotels across the state, including five-star establishments. “Through our customers and partnerships, we became a hot topic of discussion, and people casually started referring to us as ‘Bikash Babu’ as we grew more popular,” says Amit.
Swiggy levels up the journey
While the brand’s popularity kept soaring, there was still scope for Bikash Babu Sweets to reach a larger customer base. This untapped potential led to a strong partnership built on trust and mutual support. “Swiggy came to us as a blessing. The partnership gave us an early boost in establishing our presence without having to spend on infrastructure to capture people’s attention,” says Amit.
“From adding complimentary sweet dishes to meals, to utilising thermally insulated packaging, Swiggy’s suggestions helped us attract more customers and deliver our dishes to homes without any compromise in quality or freshness,” he adds.
When Akshay Kurian, Swiggy’s Senior Key Account Manager took over the brand’s account, he charted the growth plan ahead. “To boost the brand’s visibility and sales, we focused on running strategic discounts and targeted ads to propel bestselling dishes and specialities,” says Akshay, who appreciates Amit’s openness to implementing new suggestions and ideas.
“We also run innovative campaigns to delight customers with unique offers. Besides our strategies, I admire Amit Ji’s supportive gestures towards delivery partners,” adds Akshay.
“For instance, during one Diwali, I suggested that we give free sweet boxes to delivery partners, and he gladly accepted. It’s fulfilling to see our delivery partners get heartfelt appreciation through small comforts like serving them a cup of Irani Chai with snacks while they wait to collect orders, especially during rush hours,” adds Akshay.
“When we were onboarded with Swiggy, we started with 20-30 orders per day. Today, the partnership has grown to a level where a single outlet receives more than 300 daily orders. This wouldn’t have been possible without our delivery partners. These gestures are inspired by immense gratitude and our commitment to spreading happiness,” says Amit, who regularly interacts with customers and their little ones to form heartfelt connections and gather genuine feedback.
Riding on impeccable growth, the future holds exciting possibilities for Bikash Babu Sweets. “We regularly conduct surveys to identify regions that look promising. Based on our observations, we will soon expand our presence to areas such as Bengaluru and Coimbatore within a year,” adds Amit.
Reflecting on what advice to give budding restaurant owners, Amit shares, “One must start with a clear intention and goal in mind. It’s also important to ensure consistency in food quality, as that is the key to long-term customer satisfaction and loyalty.”
For over a decade, Bikash Babu Sweets has filled the lively streets of Kerala with the aroma of North Indian sweets and snacks. As the brand continues to grow in ways as unique as its vision, here’s wishing the journey only gets sweeter from here!
