In this series, we talk to people who turned their passion for food and baking into a business idea amidst lockdown and COVID-19 fears. Some have been in the market for years and others saw the new opportunity and took it! These home businesses are changing the game and have overcome the odds of running a business during the quarantine. With increased restrictions once more, we talk to home bakers who are operating during these times to bring the sweet and savoury to your very own doorstep!

A teacher by profession with a passion for baking Rizka Jahangeer Zabith took the lockdown period to make her dream a reality by opening her own home-baking business. “There is no better feeling when people actually like your work and reward you for that. That’s where my journey began as a home baker. I started to enhance my skills on baking cakes and finally, with my husband’s encouragement and support I started taking orders and named my venture as The Bitza Crunch!”.

What do you offer?
We offer all kinds of cakes, dessert, doughnuts, eclairs, truffles, brownies etc. Chocolate ganache and coffee cakes are our best-selling cakes and they became our signature dishes too. I am also fond of making these cakes and clients usually come back for the same flavour.

When did you start operations?
The Bitza Crunch came into operation during the period of curfew. I have dreamt of owning my own business sometime back, but I was not sure of my venture at the start. This pandemic situation and the cravings for bakes in our family made me start baking and the positive feedbacks that came out from everyone pushed me forward in doing this.

What is it like running your operations in times like these?
This unprecedented environment has brought significant changes which we haven’t experienced before and were not expecting. It was a big challenge running our operation during this period. It was sometimes very difficult to buy raw materials, tools and there was a huge lack of supplies and delivery services. Now, of course, we are better at handling these scenarios because we are used to the situation and got enough new suppliers who could support us during this period.

How are you ensuring that proper hygiene measures are taken in preparation and delivery?
We ensure that food is prepared in a hygienic environment always. Hygiene is high up on the list of customer concerns as a result of COVID-19 so we always maintain a clean environment for both customers and preparation sector. Thorough hygiene guidelines are followed throughout the process by cleaning the surfaces and utensils regularly and checking for the delivery services with proper hygienic guidelines when we dispatch our bakes.   

What do you enjoy about baking and operating your own home baking business?
I love experimenting with new and unique recipes because it’s another way of being creative. I love being creative with my own ideas. The satisfaction I get out of my baking makes it worthwhile. It makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something.  And of course, I love when I am getting positive feedback from our clients which takes my baking to the next level.

How do you see home bakers going forward post-Covid?
COVID-19 has drastically changed the state of many other businesses and as home bakers, it was a challenge and an eye-opener. We saw how we should prepare in these circumstances and how to stay independent to face what comes next.

What does 2021 hold for your brand?
2021 holds my brand with a good start and I’m planning my baking journey with some new ventures which would come up with some new varieties of savouries for the unique taste buds of our customers in the name “The Crunch”.  

Any advice to anyone who wants to start their own business?
Find something you’re passionate about and keep being interested in it. Do the research and make a plan. Learn from the basics and get them right. Try new recipes, learn from your mistakes and update your skills constantly.  Give yourself enough time and your journey will be successful with the help of God.