SHABIHA NUR KHATOON, OP
Ekta Gogia’s start-up is doing great, thanks to the entrepreneur’s novel initiative of finding a way to people’s hearts through their stomachs
We all want to be our own boss so that we are not answerable to anybody, but not everyone is successful in transforming themselves into a successful entrepreneur. The dream to be an entrepreneur comes with a lot of risks; so one must have the strength and courage to take the risk along with the art of solving the hurdles that come their way. It also gives you the strength and the courage to step out of your comfort zone and take risks in life.
Take a cue from Gurgaon-based Ekta Gogia, who is not a trained chef but a passionate cook who has taken training on Indian, Mughlai and Punjabi cuisines from a young age. The thought of donning a chef’s apron struck her after she moved to Gurgaon. It was her dedication and hard work that gave rise to the brand ‘The Punjab Kitchen’.
Ekta was born and brought up in Delhi and completed BA, MCA from Delhi. The Delhi girl was always passionate about cooking and, in fact, wanted to convert her passion into a profession.
“I was always inclined towards cooking, so much so that I had decided it to make a career out of it. After marriage, my husband encouraged me to consider the option of becoming an entrepreneur, and that’s how the idea of The Punjab Kitchen germinated, which blends the concept of homemade food that fits your lifestyle.
“The love and passion for food was always there in me since childhood,” she says.
Before initiating her start-up, Ekta used to watch cookery shows on digital media and trying out the recipes at home by inviting friends and family. She got encouraging reviews from everyone that gave her confidence a boost and she wanted to experiment within a commercial set-up.
Ekta thanks her parents for their constant love and support. “My family has been into this business, hence I was brought up in an environment where I always wanted to be on my own. When I took the decision to begin my own set up, I first pitched the idea about which everybody was quite happy. They encouraged me to take the idea to the next level,” says Ekta.
It’s been less than a year since Ekta has launched her start-up; the reaction, however, has been terrific. The customers who used to order sporadically have now become subscribers with their own monthly packages and many have placed corporate orders for events.
But what makes the entrepreneur proud is when she receives compliments from people like ‘ghar jaisa khana’.
“It feels simply great to receive such feedback from customers as it is very fulfilling that my vision is becoming a reality. At present, we are a small team of four fully dedicated people including me. We outsource logistics but fully control the sourcing of raw materials and operations. The idea from day one was to focus on quality rather than quantity. We do not compromise on ingredients and source the same brands that we consume at home. It is this authenticity of quality which is paying off with customers raving about us and coming back again and again,” Ekta says.
Dwelling on her future plans she adds: “We intend to continue to strive doing our best by maintaining the same quality standards since inception. We would definitely like to partner with more corporates and find a way to people’s hearts through their stomachs.”
