For many, chocolates are associated with their childhood and every bite is a portal for them to revisit those memories. While many are satisfied with run of the mill commercial chocolates, AparnaGorrepati went above and beyond not just to experience unique chocolates but also to bring that back to India to open a new world of chocolate for their customers. Driven by this passion, this pioneering Chocolatier backed by her 14+ years of experience in chocolates established Zuci Chocolates. And now, they are considered to be one of the most unique and innovative cafes in Hyderabad. Under Aparna’s guidance who has also been recognized as Top 10 Most Influential Business Leaders in India - 2021, Zuci Chocolates has grown leaps and bounds not just in terms of attracting customers but also in terms of recognition that they have garnered in the industry.

Within just a couple of years after their inception, the café has won multiple awards including Restaurant of the Year 2021, and Best Chocolatier 2021. Apart from all this, Aparna would say that Zuci Chocolates’ rise into one of the most preferred destinations for artisanal chocolates, wide range of desserts, celebratory cakes, healthy breads, and food and beverages is what matters the most. In an exclusive interview with Women Enterpreneur, Aparna talks more about her journey as a Chocolatier and the growth of Zuci Chocolates in Hyderabad.

Can You Talk More About Your Professional Journey And What Motivated You To Start Zuci Chocolates?

I was born and brought up in Hyderabad and I have been a soft skills trainer with General Electric for more than 21 years. I have been a communications specialist and leadership management trainer for the company as well. Apart from that, I have also taken numerous mentoring sessions for their employees. Working as a consultant with General Electric for all these years has helped me to pursue my other passion which is to study about chocolates. I have studied extensively on industrial chocolates and understanding the science, as well as, the health aspects of it. I have been travelling across the globe to taste and experience different chocolates. After that, coming back to Hyderabad and getting the customers feedback on our chocolates has shown me that the city and its people understand and accept the chocolates that we offer.

Apart from just running a normal café and offering our products to our customers, we educate them on the difference, as well as, the techniques on how to handle unique artisanal chocolates.

When it comes to what motivated me to venture in this vertical, for the longest time, I wanted to start a chocolate business of my own and finally, the driving force for me to study more about chocolate and finally start this venture was my son and his love for chocolate. Once, I got to know more about it, I wanted to interact with more people and educate them on the nuances when it comes to different chocolates. And for the last couple of years, doing this and seeing our brand grow has been the biggest motivating factor for me.

How Has Been Your Entrepreneurial Journey And What Were Some Of The Major Challenges You Faced In The Industry?

Entrepreneurship is very much different from a typical 9 to 5 job. You will have to be the first one to come to your company and most probably, you will also be the last one to leave. Also, challenges are part and parcel of being an entrepreneur. For me, I saw every challenge as an opportunity for me to learn and improve myself.

Coming into the specific challenges that I encountered especially during the initial days as a business owner- I would say the first thing is that for most women, it is a very challenging job to run a successful business in a male dominated industry like ours. Other than that, working on different levels and interacting with different people on a day-to-day basis can be a challenging aspect. With that said, I have been able to tackle these issues to a certain extent by consistently improving myself and by being honest and transparent.

Can You Talk More About Your Roles And Responsibilities At Zuci Chocolates?

Every single recipe of ours has my involvement in it and it is my brain child. We try to cater to the pallet of all the different customers and we try to customize our products as much as possible. So, I believe that my hands on approach is crucial for us to achieve this. Apart from that, all the team members report to me and like many other business owners, I have to wear multiple hats at the same time right from new product ideation, to customer service, and from business operations to business planning. For some, this might sound like a lot of work but for me it is very important that I am involved in all these different facets to a certain extent.

What Makes Zuci Chocolates Unique In The Industry?

We only use chocolates and we stay away from using compounds in our cafe. The quality of raw materials we use is top-notch and we won’t compromise on that. We have more than thirty plus chocolates with different flavors on our portfolio and I don’t think you can find many other cafes in Hyderabad who can offer such variety. Apart from all this, we offer personalized services to our customers and all this helps us to offer them the best experience. Apart from all this, more than just offering the best products, we go the extra mile to make sure that we have created a space where people want to come together and have a great time.

What Are Some Of The Major Milestones You Had In Your Entrepreneurship Career And What Is You Guiding Leadership Philosophy?

We started right in the mix of the pandemic. Being a new business aiming to find its feet in a market that is ravaged by the pandemic, and not only surviving it but coming out of it stronger is in itself a big achievement for us. What helped us to survive these unprecedented times is the fact that we motivated each other and this feeling of togetherness is what helps us to continue blazing our own path to success in the market.

"Study as much as possible and align yourself with the everchanging market trends"

Guiding a team and building successful teams from scratch is my forte. Even during the height of the pandemic, we made sure that we didn’t lay off any of our employees. We supported them and now, we have built a great team that works for the success of our business and for me, this is something that helps us to offer the best products to our customers.

What Would Be Your Advice To The Budding Entrepreneurs Of Tomorrow?

Study as much as possible and align yourself with the ever-changing market trends. Being a successful entrepreneur is a constant endeavor where you need to be a passionate learner to survive in the market. Also, interacting with a lot of people will help you to get more information. Apart from that, be consistent with your work, treat your team well, and be prepared to face the challenges. Never compare yourself with others, all of us have potential in us that we are yet to realize. So, be confident and don’t be afraid to try. Stay true to yourself and work hard to make your dreams come true.

Aparna Gorrepati, Founder

T his pioneering chocolatier has trained about chocolate in the Chocolate Academy of Belgium and Chicago. Apart from that, she has honed her craft in artisanal chocolate from Paris.