![]() He has been taking it a little easy since last year after suffering from a heart attack. Also, sometimes things take time and run really slow from the administration’s end,” he explains.ĭespite these roadblocks, Mahesh is really hopeful for the future. I am someone who doesn’t have much experience in the food business and understanding this sector can be a little complicated. “Keeping up with regulations and certifications has not been easy. ![]() Patiently and persistently overcoming challengesĪlthough Mahesh had already faced a bunch of hurdles on his journey to setting up Chikoo parlour, there were still a few more that he had to tackle. She says that she really loves Chikoo Parlour’s products as they are low in sugar content and taste natural. Everytime there is some festival or occasion, I continue to buy sweets from them,” says the 40-year-old therapist based in Mumbai.Ĭhiku modaks are a hit among customer’s during Ganapati season. The modak was delicious and since then, I have been buying their toffees ever since. “I tried their sweets at a friend’s place. ![]() Neelima Nagargoje discovered their sweets during Ganapati celebrations about three years back. We talked to one of those happy customers to find how sweet the chiku experience was for them. The influx of returning customers has proved that Mahesh’s hard work, perseverance and belief in his products have paid off well. While under the ‘Cool Chikoo’ section, one can enjoy scrumptious milkshakes and ice-creams. Under ‘Meetha Chiku’ they sell sweets like barfis, katlis, pedas, halwas among others.Ĭhikoo parlour’s workforce comprises of mostly women.Ĭhiku powder and rawa is sold under the ‘Sookha Chikoo’ section. Mahesh explains there are three sections under which all chiku products are sold. There’s one located on the Mumbai Ahmedabad highway and two on Mumbai-Nashik highway.Ĭurrently, Chikoo parlour offers 10 types of Indian sweets, three types of ice-cream and a milkshake. The first Chikoo Parlour which was set up on the Bordi Seaside has expanded to three more locations. I waited, took my time and experimented for about three years before finally founding Chikoo Parlour on 27 December 2017, on my birthday,” smiles Mahesh.Ĭall it Providence, stars aligning right or the fruit of a man’s labour, Mahesh’s smile was an indication that things became better after that. “My brother-in-law helped develop different chiku based sweets. Additionally, I could sell other packaged chiku products as well,” says Mahesh.Īt this time, his brother-in-law, who runs a catering business in Palghar, became a confidant. “I thought to myself, why not make chiku based food products that people can consume directly. He quickly realised that selling the powder in itself is not a viable business idea. However, his entrepreneurial soul took away useful lessons from this experiment. ![]() By the end of 2009, we had to throw out about 2000 kg of the powder since it was way past it’s expiry date,” recalls Mahesh. We also hadn’t marketed the product because not too many people even knew about it. “The powder in itself did not do good sales. Getting Chikoo parlour up and running Solar tent dryer is used to dry the chikoo which is later used in different products.Īlthough Mahesh was successful in devising a way to correctly manufacture the powder, the joy was short lived. Unfortunately, the powder, though well-met, did not get many buyers. “I sold these chiku powder packets to local shops in Bordi and to my friends who were living in Mumbai,” says Mahesh. Luckily, this worked well and he started manufacturing this powder in small amounts in 2008 to see if it would be well received. To powder the chips, he developed a special machine in-house that could grind the chips roughly and prevent the sticky-ness. Undeterred, he then cut the fruit into small thin chips and dried it using a solar tent dryer. Since it is widely available in Bordi, I started thinking of innovative ways in which I could source these fruits from farmers and start a social enterprise around it,” explains 67-year-old Mahesh. It is rich in phosphorus and dietary fibre which helps in digestion. Mahesh was also aware of the fact that since there was an abundance of the sweet fruit in the region, these farmers weren’t really getting a fair price for their efforts and the produce would go to waste. Growing up in the middle of this chiku paradise, Mahesh Churi, naturally, grew to love these sugary delicacies and developed a lot of respect for the farmers who nurtured the fruit with so much love. The Chikoo farms in Bordi are famous across the country. In fact, Bordi’s chikus are so well-known that a Chiku festival is held each year and people from all over flock to the coastal village to attend it! Who wouldn’t? Besides being a feast for the eyes, Bordi is also famous for its chiku farms that span across the entire village.
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