Discovering a scrumptious indulgence while studying abroad. Unwavering determination to turn an idea into a reality. Being the first to make uncommon goodies widely available in the city. Vedika Tibrewal of Scoopski and Aditi Somani Satnaliwala of Country Bean have much in common. And did we mention they’re both from Kolkata, as well as the same school (Modern High School for Girls)? Read on to discover more about these entrepreneurs…
Vedika Tibrewal — Scoopski
Scoopski describes itself as an ‘indulgence in a jar’. What else would you call edible cookie dough? Turns out this one is also healthy. It is free of raw flour and preservatives. It is also eggless.
When Vedika was at Harvard Summer School, gearing up to work in strategy and analytics, she came across parlours where people dug into scoops of cookie dough instead of ice cream. “I am an eater and a propagator of what I’m eating. I never stop talking about food,” she quips. The edible cookie dough intrigued her, as she assumed that cookie dough was simply raw batter waiting to be baked. When she returned to India, she craved this decadent dessert. Vedika perfected her own cookie dough recipe and this led to the creation of her brand.
Scoopski was established in August, 2018. It began as a partnership between Vedika and her mother. Her initial plan was to create a sustainable home kitchen for her mother to manage when the kids moved out. But the idea slowly metamorphosed into something bigger than she expected thanks to the response they got to their edible cookie dough.
Vedika describes Scoopski as “packaged dessert in a jar… a final product as well as an ingredient for all your other baking escapades.” Her own baking escapades led to one of Scoopski’s most-coveted items — the Pizookie (pizza + cookie). Vedika says, “We want the first reaction upon consuming it to be a smile. Whatever we metamorphose into should be something that sparks joy.”
For Vedika, having her headquarters in Kolkata is “a conversation starter” because people are often surprised to learn she’s not based in Delhi or Mumbai. “Since I’ve grown up here, I know the people and I know my way around. I have a strong base here,” says Chief Weirdough, as she calls herself.
Aditi Somani Satnaliwala — Country Bean
Aditi’s Country Bean is for those who want to bring the cafe-like coffee experience home. The idea is already working for about 2,00,000 customers from all over the country.
Aditi, like Vedika, had no idea she would land up in the food and beverage industry. She has a degree in psychology from the University of Warwick. She developed a taste for coffee from cafes while working at a design start-up, but realised it wasn’t practical to spend Rs 300 per cup every day. So, she created her own flavoured coffee.
In India, Aditi’s journey began with rejections from international coffee brands, who cited her lack of experience in the field. She changed course and ended up creating her own product.
“I used to relish a hazelnut latte or caramel frappe from my neighbourhood cafe. My coffee at home needed an upgrade. I wanted something that was super easy to make, yet delicious, and that’s how Country Bean was born,” she says.
Country Bean started in 2017, after Aditi spent a year honing her vision. “This journey wouldn’t have been possible without the love from our community of coffee drinkers,” she acknowledged.
Aditi’s mission is to “constantly innovate and raise the bar for our community.” Country Bean is always on the lookout for new ways to enjoy your favourite caffeine-fix. For instance, have you tried this gin and tonic?
Running it from Kolkata has been a rewarding experience. “Kolkata has some amazing talent and we’ve been fortunate to have some of that incredible talent on our team. We have a wonderful, growing team and it is very fulfilling to hear from customers. The Internet has made it possible to run a national or even a global business from your bedroom — and we are proud to be building one from the City of Joy,” she says.
Go on then, dig into that cookie dough and settle in with your perfectly customised coffee!
How to get your fix
Scoopski:
- Prices begin at Rs 300 for a 300gm jars.
- Other than cookie dough, you will also find Pizookies and assorted packs.
- Buy them here.
Country Bean:
- Prices begin at Rs 325 for a jar of coffee that makes 30 cups.
- Other than flavoured coffee, you will also also find coffee spreads, milk frothers and hot chocolate
- Buy them here.