In a world where dreams often get tucked away behind daily routines, Vandana Mehta dared to turn hers into a legacy. What began as simple baking experiments in her home kitchen, driven by a mother’s love to serve wholesome treats to her daughter, blossomed into Chocolat Corner, a brand that has touched countless hearts through its handcrafted indulgences. Leaving behind a stable corporate career, Vandana embraced her calling with courage, grit, and compassion, building not just a business but a community of loyal patrons who resonate with her story.
Her unwavering commitment to quality, authenticity, and emotional connection shines through every Chocolat Corner creation. But she didn’t stop there. With the rise in conscious eating, Vandana introduced Blissfully Yours, a thoughtful extension offering vegan, gluten-free, and guilt-free delights without compromising on taste. It’s her way of telling the world that indulgence can be both joyful and nourishing.
Vandana’s story is a testament to the power of belief, resilience, and following one’s inner spark. Her journey is not just about entrepreneurship, it’s about spreading happiness, one bite at a time.
Excerpts from the interview by Small Enterprise India with Vandana Mehta.
Q. Vandana, can you take us back to the moment Chocolat Corner was born? What inspired you to begin this journey from your home kitchen?
Chocolat Corner was born from a very personal space, my desire to create something nutritious yet indulgent for my daughter. After working in the corporate sector for eight years, I decided to take a break and focus on my family. During this time, I found myself increasingly drawn to baking as a creative and therapeutic outlet.
It was 2016, and I was a full-time homemaker, often experimenting with baking in my spare time. I remember the first time I made a batch of brownies that were a hit, not just with my daughter but also with our close friends. What started as weekend baking sessions soon turned into regular requests from friends, neighbours, and even school moms. I was receiving repeat orders, and I hadn’t even thought about pricing yet!
That’s when I realised that what I considered a passion project was resonating with others. It wasn’t a business idea at first, it was just a mother’s intent to serve something pure, made with love. But the organic demand and the joy I saw on people’s faces became the nudge I needed. Chocolat Corner became my way of spreading that joy beyond my home kitchen.
Q. As a homemaker transitioning into an entrepreneur, what were some of the biggest challenges you faced, and how did you overcome them?
The shift from being a homemaker to becoming a full-fledged entrepreneur was both exciting and overwhelming. I had no formal business education. Concepts like pricing strategy, inventory management, branding, and customer acquisition were new to me. I had to learn everything from scratch, sometimes through YouTube videos, sometimes through trial and error. Another big challenge was balancing my time. Managing a growing business while still handling household responsibilities meant late nights and early mornings. There were days when orders had to be packed while dinner was being cooked! But I learned to prioritise, delegate where possible, and gradually create systems.
Perhaps the biggest internal challenge was overcoming self-doubt. When you start something new, especially from home, it’s easy to question whether you’re “good enough.” But every happy customer and repeat order helped build my confidence.
Q. What role has your family played in supporting your dream, and how important has that support been in your growth?
My family has been my greatest strength. My husband has always believed in me, far more than I believed in myself in the beginning. He encouraged me to think beyond hobby baking and supported me at every stage, whether it was buying baking equipment or helping me set up our first small workshop.
My daughter, unknowingly, became my biggest muse. She inspired me to create clean, nutritious versions of treats that children love. Even today, she’s my first taster and my most honest critic! My parents and extended family also rallied behind me, spreading the word and celebrating every small win. That emotional backing made a huge difference, especially during tough times. When you’re building something from the ground up, having that unwavering support keeps you going.
Q. Chocolat Corner has become synonymous with joy and indulgence. What personal values or experiences do you think have shaped this brand identity?
Chocolat Corner reflects who I am at my core. I’ve always believed in the power of food to bring people together, to celebrate, to comfort, and to heal. I wanted the brand to be more than just about desserts, it had to evoke a feeling of warmth, nostalgia, and personal care.
Values like honesty, consistency, and quality were non-negotiable for me. I never wanted to cut corners, even if it meant higher costs or more effort. From the packaging to the handwritten notes we send with our products, everything is about creating an experience.
The personal connections I’ve formed with customers, many of whom I now know by name, have helped reinforce the brand’s identity. It’s indulgence, yes, but with heart.
Q. What was the turning point when you realized that your passion project could grow into a full-fledged business?
The big shift came when we began receiving bulk orders, not just from individuals, but from corporate clients. Companies started reaching out for festive hampers, employee gifting, and wellness kits. That kind of volume and trust made me realise that Chocolat Corner wasn’t just a side hustle anymore.
Another turning point was when we moved operations from home to a commercial setup. It felt symbolic, like I was stepping into the next phase with a clearer vision. With more structure came more possibilities: brand collaborations, retail placements, and new product development. That’s when I truly began seeing myself not just as a baker, but as a businesswoman.
Q. How do you balance creativity and business strategy while staying true to your mission of spreading happiness through your products?
It’s an ongoing process. Creativity is what got me started, it fuels the joy of creating new recipes, experimenting with ingredients, and designing packaging. But business strategy is what sustains growth. I’ve learned to strike a balance by setting clear goals for both.
We regularly engage with our customers for feedback. This helps us stay creative and responsive without losing direction. For example, a festive campaign idea may come from a creative place, but I ensure it aligns with our target audience and brand positioning. Everything we do, whether launching a new product or tweaking an old one, goes through one simple filter: does it bring joy to the consumer? That mission is our North Star.
Q. As a woman entrepreneur, what message would you like to share with other homemakers who have big dreams but hesitate to take the first step?
My message is simple: start small, but start. You don’t need to have everything figured out. Don’t wait for perfection, it’s okay to learn along the way. Running a household gives you more experience than you realise: you’re already managing time, people, crises, and finances. Those are entrepreneurial skills in action.
Believe in your instincts. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether it’s from your family, mentors, or peers. And celebrate every small win, it keeps you motivated for the bigger ones.
Q. How do you stay motivated and continue to innovate while juggling the demands of running a business and managing everyday life?
My motivation is deeply rooted in the purpose behind the business. Every time a customer sends a message saying, “These cookies made my day,” or “My kids loved the brownies,” it fills me with pride and joy. That emotional reward is powerful.
On the practical side, I try to maintain a structured routine. I plan my week in advance, keep work and family time separate as much as possible, and make room for rest. I’ve also learned to delegate and trust my team, something that was hard initially, but necessary for scale. Innovation, for me, is a natural outcome of staying curious. I keep reading, attending workshops, and listening to customer needs. That keeps the ideas flowing.
Q. Chocolat Corner has built a beautiful community of loyal customers. What do you think has been the secret to creating that emotional connection with them?
I think it’s the authenticity. From day one, we’ve focused on building relationships, not just sales. I’ve personally responded to messages, remembered customers’ preferences, and gone out of my way to accommodate special requests. That kind of attention builds trust.
We’ve also maintained consistency in quality. People know that what they get from Chocolat Corner is fresh, handmade, and thoughtfully packed. They feel the intention behind the product.And lastly, we’ve shown up during moments that matter, festivals, celebrations, and even hard times. That emotional presence has made us more than just a brand in people’s lives.
Q. What inspired you to launch Blissfully Yours, and how did you ensure that health-focused products could still taste indulgent and satisfying?
As a fitness enthusiast and a mother, I’ve always been conscious about the kind of food I offer my family, especially snacks, which often tend to be loaded with processed sugars, preservatives, and empty calories. The idea for Blissfully Yours was born in 2023 out of a personal need to find better alternative snacks that nourished the body without compromising on taste or joy. I wanted to break the myth that healthy food has to be boring or bland.
Blissfully Yours is a range of wholesome indulgences crafted with ingredients like oats, millets, whole wheat flour, jaggery, and nuts. We consciously avoid processed sugar, refined flour, emulsifiers, and artificial preservatives. Our product line includes Jowar Almond Oats Cookies, Millet Cookies, Breakfast Bites, and even guilt-free Brownie Bites, each thoughtfully developed to offer comforting, familiar flavours people love, but in a much healthier form.
Creating these products took months of testing and refining. We worked to strike that delicate balance between nutrition and indulgence, ensuring every bite delivers not only health benefits but also satisfaction. The goal has always been to redefine healthy snacking, to make it feel like a treat, not a compromise. And the positive response from both families and fitness-focused customers alike has been incredibly rewarding.
Q. With growing awareness around vegan, gluten-free, and clean eating, how do you see Blissfully Yours evolving in the next few years?
Blissfully Yours was born to meet the growing demand for mindful indulgence, and we’re just getting started. The vision is to evolve into a brand that becomes synonymous with clean, nourishing treats that don’t compromise on taste.
We’re currently working on gluten-free and vegan product lines, as well as expanding into breakfast cereals and snack packs that cater to fitness-focused consumers and working professionals. In the future, I also see Blissfully Yours entering wellness cafés, corporate wellness programs, and curated gifting experiences. But beyond products, I hope it becomes a movement that redefines what “healthy” snacking looks and feels like, joyful, guilt-free, and accessible.
Q. Looking back at your journey since 2016, what are you most proud of today—both as an entrepreneur and as a woman?
I’m proud of the fact that I turned a deeply personal passion into a growing business, without compromising on my values. I started with zero background in business, and today Chocolat Corner and Blissfully Yours have found a place in people’s hearts and homes.
As a woman, I’m proud of being an example to my daughter, and to many other women, showing that it’s never too late to start. That your dreams matter. That you can raise a family and a business side by side. And most of all, I’m proud of the resilience and growth I’ve experienced as a person throughout this journey.