From just three tiffins to three outlets: The rise of Soyara’s

Soyara Mohite is a name familiar among Goa’s foodies since the beginning of 2000. From a homemaker to an entrepreneur, Soyara’s journey is an example of her commitment and goal-oriented actions. Moulding her passion for cooking and shaping it to fit into a systematic business model, Soyara managed to not only kick-start a ‘take-away’ food joint, but also branched out and expanded into two outlets, and now planning for the third, in Goa.

Creating a space in the hearts of many, beginning from school going kids of working parents, to office goers, and youth, Soyara has created a niche for herself in the ‘take-away’ and ‘restaurant’ business in Goa, and has loyal customers from across the State. Her food is appreciated not only in the capital city where she has a take-away corner and a restaurant, but people from Porvorim, Mapusa, Ponda, Margao and Vasco also place bulk orders, and pick their stuff from Panaji.

Interestingly Soyara began with just three tiffins of home-cooked food, taking orders from working parents of school going kids. The year was 2002. Starting from three tiffins, the number went up to 200 within few months as her food was tasty and authentically prepared, avoiding recycled oil or soda. Goans love food and like to taste variety, so Soyara was sure that footfalls won’t fall short, and she would make long-standing relationships with her customers.

Albeit, the road was untrodden for her, as she recalls, “Before the beginning of this tiffin service, I visited all the schools in Panaji and Porvorim to meet and convince the school managements and parents, about the concept. I did not get a very good response then, as it was just the start and my culinary skills were not known to anyone. Unless someone tastes the food, it’s difficult to judge it. With great difficulty I bagged my first three orders. I cooked the food and delivered personally. As the aroma of the freshly cooked food spread around, other kids were curious, and after tasting her bites, they recommended their parents to have my tiffin for them too. Word of mouth publicity helped me bag more orders.”

Later her ‘Kids Camp’ tiffin services had to be halted for reasons beyond her control. What was the reason? “The number of kids started to increase and I was unable to provide this out of my home. But knowing the demand for my food, I decided to set up an outlet in Patto,” explains Soyara who with her husband Shantendu’s support took up the challenge and plunged into the food business, professionally.

Soyara is at the helm of all cooking affairs. All the dishes on her menu are strictly supervised and monitored by her while her all-women-staff cook them. “I have a dedicated women team of 11 whom I train to cook, pack and serve. Educated women can get jobs but what about uneducated or less educated ones? I provide work to their idle hands and teach them skills so that they too earn with dignity and pride,” says Soyara whose passion of cooking turned into a profession, and earned her name and fame.

“I was confident of my culinary skills, my in-laws and my husband encouraged me, so I am here today,” agrees Soyara, who received the ‘Maharasthra and Goa Udyogini Award’ in Women Entrepreneur-Hotel category in 2008. It’s been a long journey for her. What are her specialities? “We have an assortment of snacks and lunch items, both veg and non-veg. All items are prepared in house, to give a more homely taste,” she quips.

“There’s veg biryani, veg/paneer rolls, veg cutlets, sandwiches and a daily changing menu for thali. In non-veg we offer, chicken/mutton biryani, chicken/mutton masala, chicken rolls, chicken cutlets and sandwiches. Our speciality is in the biryanis, rolls, and cutlets both veg and non-veg. Our chicken and mutton masala too, are hot sellers, with most of our orders related to these items. We do not offer catering services, however we do take bulk orders – kilo based biryani orders or 100 rolls/vada pao etc,” she is quick to add.

Her take away and eatery at Patto complex are always crowded. People stand out, with plates in their hands and enjoy the food. Some manage to get a place to sit in the small space adjacent to the counter while grabbing their quick bites. Patto has both the outlets – one at Dempo Towers and the other at Gera Imperium Grand – fully crowded keeping Soyara busy from 9 am to 6 pm. By evening all her dishes get sold out, not a single morsel remains. “We are available on Zomato and Swiggy for online orders; for bulk orders customers will have to come pick the order up,” she informs. Wanting to expand her horizons and keep herself ever occupied, Soyara is ambitiously planning to open her third outlet in Goa, very soon.

With a lot of experience in the food industry, Soyara has a message for women in Goa. “We all are equipped with various skills. We all want to start a business of our own, be it big or small. The only capital one needs is strong will, commitment, dedication and goal oriented work. The perseverance, consistency, and patience will take you to your goal. Problems and challenges are a part and parcel of life, but one can overcome them with zest and zeal. Stay focussed. Grab opportunities. Paths will open automatically and make way for you!”