Harmony Chocolates By Aayush Sapra
Aayush Sapra, India’s biggest food vlogger with 1.5 million subscribers on YouTube, recently took the entrepreneurial route by launching Harmony Chocolates by Aayush Sapra. This is an inspiring tale of determination and adaptability, how Sapra went through a unique journey in entering the handcrafted chocolate business.
“The Philox” reached out to Sapra to know more about his new venture and the story behind it. Here’s how he shared his journey with us.
From Idea to Startup: The Spark Behind Harmony Chocolates
Sapra’s entrepreneurial journey began with a simple idea: creating something meaningful for his audience, which had grown significantly since 2020. However, this idea didn’t initially revolve around chocolates. “The idea was never about selling the greatest chocolates,” he admits. “I didn’t have a secret recipe or even culinary skills. I’m probably one of the worst cooks in the world.”
What he did have, however, was a passion for creation and a surefire platform on which to market his product with his entertaining videos. Initially, Sapra considered launching a mukhwas brand, inspired by the sugar-coated fennel seeds that Indians enjoy as a post-meal treat. He even developed a blueprint for this venture, thoroughly researching suppliers, packaging, and branding.
However, with such practice, he realized mukhwas would not appeal to his young audience who, after all, are the majority of his fan base. It was also lacking on repeat value which should always be there for a healthy business. And that brought him back into the same drawing board as before with the only clear thing in mind: to make an excellent after-meal product.
Why Chocolates?
Confronted with the decision to launch a drink brand or a chocolate brand, Sapra chose chocolates. He felt they would be easier to manufacture, especially handcrafted chocolates, which required minimal investment.
His decision wasn’t based on childhood dreams of becoming a chocolatier. “I didn’t know from my childhood that I wanted to start a chocolate brand,” he jokes. “I just thought it would be easier to make chocolates than drinks.”
The Birth of Harmony Chocolates
What followed was a year long quest to find the right chef, come up with new recipes, and learn the ins and outs of the chocolate industry. Last August 2024 Sapra launched Harmony Chocolates by Aayush Sapra.
The team was composed of himself, his wife, and a close friend, who managed everything from creating the website to packaging the orders and shipping them out. This not only helped save costs but also gain a deep understanding of how their business operations work.
He Said “I tell you another interesting thing, it’s website is also created by us, to save money obviously, we learnt everything, from website management to inventory management to order packaging, to managing returns, shipment everything is done by myself, my wife and a friend of mine“
Early Success and Overcoming Challenges
It was really tough in the initial months. Sapra recounts how he had to really fight to handle the surge of orders that came right after the launch. “We had no idea about handling so many orders simultaneously,” he says. That is what motivated him quickly to learn and adapt: an overwhelming response from the audience.
This is showing that the brand is a success. Harmony Chocolates got approvals for listing on Amazon and Blinkit, and talks are already in place with offline retailers to bring their products into the physical stores.
A unique product line would be created by Harmony Chocolates.
Harmony Chocolates has some really exciting flavors, such as Rabri, Pan, and Tang. Tang is actually Sapra’s favorite, a rather bold and unusual flavor. The classic version, which has crunchy, nutty, and dark chocolate bars, is also a favorite among customers.
The brand has also introduced actual kaju badam pizza flavor, flavored makhanas in three varieties, cookies, and a healthy bar, which is expected to hit the market soon.
For the current update and ongoing status of the brand he said “If I give you a quick current update on our brand’s journey, so right now, we have got approvals for both amazon and blinkit. We are even in discussion with some offline retailers for getting it on stores. So yeah, soon you might see us at many places“
The Road Ahead
The challenges of building something from scratch were beautifully reflected in the life of Sapra, starting from a food vlogger to an entrepreneur. “The journey of an entrepreneur is beautiful and tough in many aspects,” he said. “But if you go through the tough stages, you finally taste the sweet fruit.”.
Harmony Chocolates is making rapid strides and spreading out; Sapra’s story inspires aspiring entrepreneurs. So, keep an eye on Harmony Chocolates by Aayush Sapra, which may soon reach a store near you.
