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Page 1 of 4 (Simply Mumbai, Nov 2005 )
The Incas considered it the food of the gods; Charles Dickens wrote two
books about it and countless movies have been made around it. Adding to
the legend are a few Mumbai entrepreneurs.
Tiny blue-nosed bears, mocha booties with pink laces, grooved stars and
mini Christmas trees. These are a few of Conrad and Malavika D'souza's
favourite things. The creative heart of Chocoholics, Conrad was a pastry
chef with Indigo for five years before diving into the chocolate making
business.
"We specialise in bitter chocolates and are unique as we do not use milk
products," he says. Chocoholics offers a mouth-watering spread of soft
centres, nut packed dynamos, cashew, almond, walnut and raisin nuggets
and
butter scotch delights with prices ranging between Rs 600 and Rs 800 per
kg. Despite the established and new competition, business has grown. "It
has increased four times, from what it was when we started out," says
wife
Malavika.
The buzz of heavyweight corporate clients like HSBC and
Johnson
& Johnson, high profile celebrities and top-notch film stars keeps the
duo
on their toes. Their niche array also finds ready takers in nine leading
cafes and restaurants in Mumbai. "We are content with providing desserts
like walnut pralines and mud cakes to big huge parties and supplying
chocolates to all," both maintain.
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