Laying a brick every day and hour is how you build something that has a strong foundation. It all started way back in 2007 when Prabhakar Reddy began his journey in a similar way by opening his first food truck. Since then, he has come a long way and is now the owner of Varalakshmi Tiffins, a popular tiffin center in Hyderabad and Guntur, India.
Presently, they serve over 10,000 plates per day to a wide range of customers, including office workers, students, and families.
When asked about where he found the initial inspiration to get started, Prabhakar revealed that he had the onus to take care of his family. He further states,
“I grew up in a small village where everyone knew how to cook delicious, home-style food. I wanted to create a place where people could come to enjoy the same kind of food that they would eat at home.”
To echo Prabhakar’s sentiments, we can all agree on the fact that it is quite difficult to find a place that serves food that is similar to our home cooked food- warm, comforting, and healthy.
There is something for everyone
Not only do Prabhakar and his team place importance on using fresh, high-quality ingredients and traditional cooking methods, but they also strive to offer a wide variety of tiffins to choose from. “There is something for everyone.”
For Prabhakar, the venture is more than just a business. He shares,
“It is a way for me to share my love of food with others and to make a difference in their lives. I am proud to be able to provide people with a delicious, home-cooked meal that they can enjoy with their loved ones.”
Challenges faced
Entrepreneurship brings with it a set of challenges. Starting his venture on his own and getting the word out posed a significant hurdle. On top of that, he did not have a lot of cash lying around that he could use for marketing and advertising. Losing faith was the answer. So, what did he do? Prabhakar says,
“I relied on word-of-mouth to attract customers. It took some time, but eventually people started to notice our food and we started to get more customers.”
One more challenge he faced in the initial days was to keep up with the growing demand. He adds,
“As our business grew, we had to move to a larger kitchen and hire more staff. It was a challenge to maintain the quality of our food while also increasing our production.”
Achievements
Prabhakar takes pride in the fact that they have been able to satisfy their customers till today. Their customer base consists of people who keep coming back for their food, which speaks highly of the standard of quality they uphold.
One more achievements is that they have been awarded the “Best Tiffin Center in Hyderabad” award for three consecutive years. He shares,
“We are also the only tiffin center in Hyderabad to be certified by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).”
With everything he has achieved until today, he owes it all to the support he has received. He adds,
“I am grateful for the support of my family and friends. They have always been there for me, both personally and professionally. I could not have done this without them.”
Future plans and lessons learned
Current plans for Varalakshmi Tiffins include expanding their operations in more cities in India and worldwide. They are also looking forward to adding more offerings in their menu.
In terms of the lessons he has learned in his journey, he says,
“It is important to be passionate about what you do. If you are not passionate about your business, it will be difficult to succeed.”
Note from Prabhakar to budding entrepreneurs:
“Never give up on your dreams. There will be challenges along the way, but if you are persistent and hardworking, you will eventually achieve your goals. Also, follow their dreams. It is not easy, but it is definitely worth it. If you are passionate about what you do and you are willing to work hard, you can achieve anything.”
