Monitor News Bureau
Srinagar, March 03: Nida Ramzan Lone has earned fame with the handmade cookies she sells under ‘Kashur Crunch’ label.
Hailing from a remote village Ashtingoo, in Bandipora district, she runs a bakery at two places—one at Bandipora and another at Uri.
Layers of walnut and apple make her cookies special.
She started her work last year in May, and within 11 months, she became the national distributor of Apple and Walnut cookies.
In less than a year, she has established her business and developed a clientele across the country.
“I have received orders from different places and people like my flavored cookies. I am receiving orders from Bangalore, Pune, Delhi and other states of the country. We are mostly exporting these cookies to different states,” she said.
She said the people outside the state like her flavored cookies.
“Kashmir is known for its walnuts and apples. So, the so people find these flavoured cookies special,” she said.
She calls her bakery units as “All women Bakery”, as she has employed a staff consisting seven girls working on part-time and full-time positions.
After completing her BCA, the 25-years-old set up her bakery units with the help of Pune-based NGO, Aseem Foundation.
“Aseem Foundation helped me in selling the cookies, especially in Pune. They helped me to set up my bakery units and currently, I have a partnership with the NGO,” said Lone, who is simultaneously pursuing a degree in Information Technology from Pune.
She produces around 300 kg cookies every month.
“I am selling 1kg cookies for Rs 360, and I am happy that my bakery units are successfully working. Men only help me in bringing the raw material and taking the finished products to the market,” she said.
“I had a yearly contract with the NGO, and it is renewed every year. I cannot sell these cookies in the Valley.”
Lone is planning to increase production by adding walnut and apple-flavoured cakes to the menu.
“My flavored cookies are in demand, encourage me to expand my business. I get a good response from the locals as well. They also like the flavored cookies and I am thinking to introduce them in the local market too,” she said.
She said that she was thankful to her family for their support.
“My family is with me, so I cannot care about anything else,” she said.
