Meet Nandini Mukherjee

She founded Indian Bread Co. in New York City's Greenwich Village.

Walk down Bleecker Street in New York's Greenwich Village, and you will come across the delicious smell of soft, doughy bread mixing pleasantly with coriander, onions and tandoor-charred meats. This delightful aroma is wafting out of Indian Bread Co., a contemporary, relaxed café and catering business offering fresh, flavorful, portable Indian food. What's portable Indian food, you ask? Picture a panini stuffed with lamb Vindaloo and you’ll get the idea (and probably a strong craving too).

"The welcome is warm, as is the spiced masala chai tea," declares AOL City Guide in one of many rave reviews of this new spot, and it's no wonder people are taking notice. Indian Bread Co. was launched in 2003 by Nandini Mukherjee, 34, who set out to create an entirely new restaurant concept.

"The Indian food in New York left me disappointed," says Nandini, who grew up in Jamshedpur, India. She dreamed up the idea of creating a "bright, cheerful café" combining traditional Indian flavors with America's habit of eating on-the-go.

During this time, Mukherjee was pursuing her master's degree. "The choice was between two-day old curry at prices I could afford; or formal, sit-down wonderful food I'd spent days saving for," she says. "I realized that there was a market gap for fresh, flavorful, portable Indian food at a reasonable price. That led to the germination of an idea which eventually took shape as Indian Bread Co."

Unlike many people, Nandini didn't stop at dreaming. She took action, and success has come quickly. Indian Bread Co. has attracted several famous customers, such as film director Mira Nair and singer Norah Jones, Nandini has provided her delicious fare for some of the biggest events in Manhattan, including the 2004 Republican National Convention and the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival. But growth takes hard work, and Nandini has faced more than a few 20-hour days baking naan and seeking financing.

After borrowing money from her home equity line and asking her husband to invest, Nandini found Count Me In and applied for and won a Make Mine a Million $ Business award package. She has since enjoyed the support of fellow women entrepreneurs. "As part of Count Me In, you are the sum of a whole. You are constantly in touch with women who are achieving a lot. It makes you want to make the best of each day."

With a non-business background, Nandini also benefited greatly from the program's business coaching, technology package and public relations support. Nandini has a bachelor's degree in Architecture from India and a master of arts in lighting design from Parsons School of Design in New York City.

"After graduation, I spent the next year working in a prestigious lighting design firm, while preparing to open IBC," she says. "The first step towards my goal was to gain knowledge about the New York restaurant industry. This included taking short courses at the Institute of Culinary Education, French Culinary Institute, Women's Venture Fund, and The Small Business Development Center at Pace University (SBDC)."

Today, Indian Bread Co. has four full-time employees, and several part-time employees. Chetan Gandh is co-owner and Nandini's husband. An IT graduate from the University of Southern California, Gandhi has been working on next generation telecommunications solutions with Intel for the past 10 years. The store's manager, Hassan, has eight years of experience in the hospitality industry. He is in charge of purchasing, inventory control, and training new back-end staff. The head chef, Babu, has worked in several quick-service South Asian restaurants in the New York area for more than 15 years.

Count Me In has also helped Nandini to focus on her growth plans. "I fully believe in our product and that now is the time to take it to the next level," she said. "I want to brand the concept and in three to four years I'd like to open three more company-owned locations in New York City, and then go out and explore franchising or licensing options. Another revenue model is that we could be sold at supermarkets. We want to grow step-by-step."

When not immersed in the Indian Bread Co., Nandini enjoys spending time with her family. She grew up in a joint family in India with 14 members.

"The essence of family runs strong in all of us and we make it a point to get together and catch up with each other in our family home in India at least once a year," she said. "Today, I live in New York City with my husband, Chetan Gandhi, and our 3 year old pug, Creo. We are expecting our first child in March 2009."

Nandini says that her ongoing goal is to live life on her terms. She defines success as "the freedom to make my choices, attain my goals and work toward my dreams—taking my future in my own hands."

Thanks to her popular and delicious hand-held treats, Nandini is well on her way to making those dreams come true.

 

 

 

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