PACKING LOVE IN TREATS

RENUKAA RANA MODI

‘We The Women’ is here for you with a treat. In this week’s edition, we are bringing for you about the journeys of one of the most established baker in the town. Renukaa is a well-known name in the baking world of Jammu for last twelve years with experience surpassing even twenty.To survive in this demanding field of shifts and thrive as a business woman is sure to get anyone intrigued. Read on to know more.


If you would ask Renuka to tell you about herself, she would respond something on this note- “Well! I am a wife, a mother, a true friend and a professional in my industry. Essentially speaking, my work spans the Food & Beverage Industry, with a heavy emphasis on Baking.”
Renukaa vividly remembers the delicious Chocolate pastries and Chicken patties of Adoos at Srinagar and Jammu she used to relish while growing up. She expresses, “Maybe it was always at the back of my mind to create the lovely delicacies I used to enjoy. My Mom was a fantastic baker; it was in my genes, I suppose.”
For Renukaa who got married at an early age, it all started while baking for her kids and husband, just like any other mother and wife would. For her, baking for the family wasn’t limited to just occasions, like birthdays and anniversaries. Renukaa shares, “My family and my friends appreciated my baking so much, that they would request me to bake every week.”
Not long after, some of Renukaa’s friends started requesting her to bake for their kids’ birthday parties and offered to compensate for the work and materials used. Slowly and gradually, the name got out and the popularity grew enough for her to start baking at a commercial level.
Sharing about her business background and the source of inspiration, her grandfather Uttam Singh Khorana, Renukaa expresses, “Though he passed away before I was born but the way he built vast businesses had a real impact on me. I knew I could never measure up to him, but at the same time, I was confident that I was going to transform that inspiration into actionable reality.”
And so she did. Renukaa, talking about the key to her business, shares, “My focus is primarily a consumer-driven-and-oriented approach. When you introduce a new product line into the market, the initial response will always be overwhelming, for the most part. However, to maintain the interest level and retention, one has to make certain and specific refinements, from time to time. The key is to never deviate from the consumer-centric approach.”
That is what Renukaa strives to do and have been doing; continuously bettering her and improving her products. Like every journey, Renukaa has also gone through numerous peaks and valleys.
Renukaa expresses, “My journey introduced me to numerous situations and circumstances, at the same time it taught me how to endure challenges and embrace accolades; it taught me how to learn from the past, how to live in the present and how to stay positive about the future. It also taught me, how not to let success go to my head and failure to my heart. It truly taught me, that life is a journey, not a destination, so I braced myself and started enjoying the ride.”
Renukaa’s husband who had been a Bureaucrat was quite reluctant to let her bake cakes commercially. But after being persuaded by Renukaa’s friends, he relented. According to Renukaa, her husband has played a significant role in coming up with the name for her venture, ‘Renuka's Cakes’ and the success associated with it.
On being inquired if she has a sweet tooth and if she has ever baked exclusively for herself, Renukaa responds, “I very much have a sweet tooth, sometimes, more than I should.”
She adds, “I must remark, I have never baked exclusively for myself and perhaps, I will be doing that fairly soon. Thank you for reminding me about this particular aspect, since it is so important.”
Renukaa believes in balancing professional and personal life, which, according to her, has been a major accomplishment. In her own words, her major achievements are staying a devoted wife and a dedicated mother to her children, even after picking a profession.
Renukaa says, “No matter, what struggles I had to go through while working endless hours to pursue my passion and dreams, I never compromised in the deliverance of my duties, as a wife and a mother. I say this unequivocally.”
Speaking about the most memorable moment in her professional journey, Renukaa shares, “It is unforgettable being when in 2001, I was asked from the Raj Bhavan (Her Excellency -The former Governor GC Saxena 's wife) to cater to the Republic Day celebrations at their residence. I must say, I felt so honoured.”
Talking about the experience, Renukaa says, “The then honorable Governor’s wife-- Mrs. Premini Saxena, a regular client-- was very fond of my cakes and dainty savouries. The order was a pretty large one for Republic day and a big challenge for me. I started working on it two days earlier as it was a bulk order.”
“As always, I gave my best shot and delivered the results with utmost passion and zeal. The First Lady was so generous with her praises and compliments, which humbled me immensely,” she reminisces.
On being inquired if her family cherishes having a baker in the family, Renukaa says gushing merrily, “My family has always cherished my baking. My sons and husband, each have their own favourites that they love for me to make for them. For instance, my husband loves my pineapple cake. My black forest cake is my middle son’s favourite. One son likes Banoffee pie and smuggles it to his room so that only he can eat it.”
She further adds, “Every time, I try a new recipe for my business, it becomes a treat for my family, since they are the first ones to test it out. So, in a nutshell, yes, my family feels lucky and happy to have a baker in the family.”
Sharing with ‘We The Women’ about the feedback she has gotten so far for her work, Renukaa says, “All of my patrons have been so generous and genuine with their compliments, that it melts my heart. I can’t thank them enough. They all made me, who I am today.”
Renukaa’s ideology is very simple and straightforward-Hard Work. She rightly believes that there is no substitute for hard work and no shortcuts to success. She says, “No matter, what industry, you belong to, always work hard and have unwavering faith in God Almighty. You can do, only so much. But whatever, you can do, do what you do best and leave the rest.”
Talking about the women around, Renukaa says, “I am thrilled by the self -awareness and initiatives taken up by a lot of women in our state, today. Kudos to such ladies! It is happening slowly, but surely. Baking is just one stream of this vast business and entrepreneurial arena.”
For other women who wish to pursue the same career, a golden tip lies even in Renukaa’s dispiriting words, “I will not be able to speak to the advocacy of women in our state, who have chosen baking as a career or specialty. Reason being: Baking to me has been a calling and my passion, not merely a hobby or a career.”
She adds on, “Back in the day, when I started baking, I was the first one to take that leap and initiative, in this field; I revolutionized baking. Having said that, if my fellow women display the same zeal and passion, if not more, I am confident that they will excel in any entrepreneurial venture, they decide to undertake.”
To the aspirants here is Renukaa’s suggestion, “Baking is not just an art or talent, it is a skill as well, which you have to keep honing and keep striving for perfection. Don’t be afraid of failures, just keep pressing forward. Don’t take your incumbency for granted. No matter, how long it takes, do not give up.”
According to Renukaa, once you have recognized the talent within yourself, next step is to transform that talent(s) into strength(s). She urges to always remember that when we do something well, that is one of our suits and strengths. However, when we are pushed out of our comfort zone and have to try something new that is the time to identify new strengths and develop them into new skills.
In her words, “You should feel blessed to have some talents, but you need to develop those talents, so they become your skills and empower you even more.”

Updated On 6/13/2018 12:25:54 AM