How Vikash Kesari’s hand-finished cakes are winning customers in Sonbhadra

At the busy Sitla Mandir area near Main Chowk in Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh, baker and entrepreneur Vikash Kesari is building a neighbourhood brand around handcrafted flavours. His rebuilt outlet, which reopened in May 2025, has gained recognition for cakes and pastries that are mixed and finished by hand. 

According to Kesari, this method gives each batch a distinct taste, and customers have begun seeking it out deliberately.

From clothing to confectionery

Kesari, the founder-owner, earlier ran a clothing shop with his brothers. His shift toward baking began nearly five years ago, when he started learning the craft while continuing to manage the family business. 

Operations paused during a renovation phase, before restarting formally in 2025 with the reopened outlet.

Access to capital, however, remained a challenge. Kesari says guidance from his bank manager led him to apply under the Chief Minister Udyami Yojana. A loan of Rs 4.5 lakh was sanctioned, and a Rs 50,000 subsidy has been approved and is awaited. The monthly repayment schedule, he adds, has been manageable for a first-time formal borrower.

With credit in place, Kesari invested in essential equipment and restocked the bakery. “The market is normal right now, but with the coming season it will improve,” he said, noting that repeat customers often place customised cake orders for family functions and festivals.

What’s on the menu and what sells most

The bakery’s offerings include cakes, pastries, patties, biscuits, doughnuts, pizza and pizza bases, breads and pav, toast, khari, and samosas, along with gift packs for small celebrations, sold at accessible prices.  

According to Kesari, cakes and pastries see the highest demand, driven by made-to-order designs and a consistent focus on taste.

A small team with defined roles

The bakery employs five to six staff members, alongside active family involvement. Two workers handle cake preparation and finishing, one focuses on sponge and breads, another shapes patties, and one manages pastries. Kesari and his wife oversee front-of-house operations.

He emphasises that a clear division of labour helps maintain consistency and allows the bakery to scale production during festive peaks without compromising freshness.

Why the scheme mattered

Kesari believes the Chief Minister Udyami Yojana played a critical role in reducing early friction by linking him to bank credit, a modest subsidy and predictable monthly instalments. He described the paperwork process through the bank and the district industries office as navigable, adding that the scheme helped him avoid informal borrowing.

For now, Kesari remains focused on steady execution, keeping pricing reliable and delivering custom cakes that anchor community celebrations. 

In a town-centre location where word of mouth travels fast, his handcrafted approach and access to small-ticket financing have come together to create a compact and sustainable bakery model for Sonbhadra.

What is CM YUVA Scheme?

Under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath Ji, the state government aims to transform youth from job seekers into job creators.

To achieve this vision, the Directorate of Industries and Enterprise Promotion, under the Department of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises and Export Promotion, is implementing the ‘Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan’ (CM YUVA) Yojana.

Under this scheme, young entrepreneurs are provided with up to Rs 5 lakh in 100% interest-free and collateral-free loans to start their industrial or service-based ventures. In addition, beneficiaries also receive a 10% margin money subsidy on the project cost.

CM YUVA is not just a financial assistance scheme; it also provides mentorship, guidance, market access, and essential resources to help youth become self-reliant entrepreneurs and generate employment opportunities for others.

Click here to know more about the CM YUVA Scheme.