Here, in Hyderabad, the name “Dadu’s” has had a faithful, ever-expanding fan base since 1993, when Rajesh Dadu established the first outlet in Himayatnagar. “It gave me a lot of energy, confidence, and faith that made me realize that I can turn my dreams into reality”, he recalls fondly.
Rajesh Dadu has come a long way since then. His passion for excellence, and fervent desire to offer customers the finest of flavours, have resulted in ten outlets and growing, around the city, and the recognition of Dadu’s as a leading name in Indian sweets. Skilled master chefs produce a plethora of favourites from renowned family recipes, while continuously improvising and creating unique delicacies; every visit to Dadu’s is full of pleasant surprises. The kitchen machinery is state-of-the-art, assuring consistent flavours and quality (strictly maintained to FSSAI & WHO standards), and it shows in the customer delight that the brand enjoys.
For all that, Rajesh’s pride is his daughter, Muskaan, a graduate of the International Hospitality and Business School in Switzerland. She shares her father’s passion for manufacture and marketing of mithai and brings youthful energy as she redesigns Dadu’s products for a new generation.
SERVICE AT THE CORE
“It’s wise to remember that original idea, taste, and human interaction are the cornerstones of our business”, says Rajesh Dadu. “In mithai stores, during those days (1993), customers would not enter the stores. They were supposed to look at the display counters at the entrance and buy from there. There was no concept of Customer Service and Relations. I wanted to start a mithai shop where customers are invited inside, made to taste, and then buy sweets as per their satisfaction. A true “Customer is King” service concept.”
“This has created a collaborative and creative culture across the business.” Rajesh continues. “We believe that a brand that keeps innovating never grows old. This has helped in repeat footfalls from regular customers, strengthening brand loyalty, and attracting the newer generation. We proudly offer 1000+ varieties today. Going beyond the traditional Indian sweets, we have also made a successful foray into confectionery, Turkish sweets, fusion vegetarian food, Indianized ice creams, and much more.”
Entering The Corporate World:
Mr. Dadu says, “My goal has always been to be number one in terms of quality and timely delivery of orders. I did a lot of experimentation with the preparation styles to achieve authenticity and longer shelf life. These attributes took us to the Corporates. We ideated getting customized boxes for the bulk orders and this brought us in closer association with the corporates.”
Wedding Culture:
Weddings are a big part of the group segment and Dadu’s had entered this catering business in a big way. In the South, sweets were not a big part of the weddings, until they witnessed the magnificent Wedding Melas curated by Dadu’s. The grandeur of the concept is widely admired and demanded by the who’s who of the country like movie stars, politicians, and even business giants.
Trendsetters:
Learning from experiences, bring observant of the surroundings contribute to Mr. Dadu’s path-breaking decisions. “I was travelling abroad in 2001 and at the airport, I saw a sweet box bought somewhere by a passenger was leaking in the hands of the customs officer. It was quite unpleasant, and they had to throw the box away.
That became a big takeaway for me. Tamper-proof boxes are a must for a seamless experience, especially for travelling and long life. I decided to upgrade all the boxes by collaborating with some of the best packaging engineers in the country. That came at an extra cost, but we decided to make it our standard. Soon our boxes became the talk of the town. Strong, leakproof, and beautiful – boxes that do justice to the products inside.”
BIGGEST SUCCESS:
Deepa Dadu, Rajesh’s wife, and business partner says, “For us, it’s been more than 27 years of serving sweets, savouries, and Celebrations. Even in this current homebound situation, sweets are the magic ingredient that has brought engagement and joy to every household. The greatest reward is getting to know our customers and addressing their needs. Some of them have become our regulars and friends, and they enthusiastically promote our products to others on their own initiative, which is very motivating. We strive to provide our customers with the tastiest treats in the city.”
Technology And Automation:
“We are seeing a gifting culture in online purchases. We recently launched our online Corporate Gifting Brochure – gifting.dadus.co.in. One can browse, select, customize, and order gift boxes or hampers from the convenience of their home.” Rajesh Dadu adds, “Combining age-old techniques, state-of-the-art automation technology, and artistic mastery, we ensure that every bite will delight your senses.
Next Moves:
Muskaan Dadu has big plans for Dadu’s in the coming years. “Transforming the familiar sweet shop into a food group, infusing modern ideas into our traditions of making sweets and savouries, all present fresh, new challenges”, she says.
“We are hard at work on our expansion plans; our latest location at RGIA, is due to open very soon”. Muskaan concludes, “We choose to lead by setting our own path. Our goal is to be a part of the customer’s family and celebrations. Where there is happiness, there will be Dadu’s.”