As Valentine’s Day approaches, business all over the worldwarms up to the occasion and there is no reason for Goa and young Goanentrepreneurs to shy away from making the best of the lovely day. Chirag DattaNaik will be doing exactly the same, as he is throwing open his fifth outlet ofback-shop and food boutique ‘Canapé’ in Goa on February 14. Chirag representsthe sixth succeeding and successful generation of the Naik Shankhwalkar family,originally from Sancaol but settled in Margao for 300 odd years.
“Unlike our elders who joined business prematurely at a veryearly age, my son Chirag completed his education before he joined me,” saysDatta Damodar Naik, Managing Director, Commonwealth Developers Pvt. Ltd and anoted author. A Civil Engineer by profession, Chirag has done his MBA and alsoa Condensed Bakery Course in the American Institute of Baking, which qualifieshim to run the varied family businesses “ construction and bakery, aptly.
Datta’s great great grandfather Sukdo used to sell coconuts.His great nephew Bombi was a resourceful entrepreneur who expanded the businessinto selling grocery, cloth retailing, floor mill and sale of cars. In 1920, Datta’sgrandfather Kashinath separated from Bombi and started a ‘pedhi’ “ a brokeragefirm which imported goods from British India and supplied to Goan shopkeepers.In 1931 his firm in Goa, Caxinate Damodara Naique began wholesaling of groceryproducts and consumer goods. From 1931-61 he imported different consumerproducts and consumer durables like biscuits, baby food, chocolates, cosmetics,Chinese crockery, fans etc. In mid 1930s son Damodar joined Kashinath.
Today Monginis has expanded its network with 42 franchiseeshops across Goa and a state-of-the-art factory at Verna. The year 2009 saw thesixth generation of Naik’s get into business with young Chirag stepping in withCanapé which is fast moving. “Chirag manages the operational side of bakery andconstructions while I handle business in general “ strategy, finance, sales andmarketing,” smiles a contented father in Datta.
