Skrumptious: Beyond the ordinary

9 September 2014 05:06 pm

The story of an innovative idea and an addictive recipe that changed the realm of dessert making

By Shabnam Farook

 

Contrary to what most of you would assume at first glance, this story is not just about the perennial favorite brownie, or as I like to call it, the bite sized wonder that satiates all your insatiable cravings for chocolate. I’m sure you would agree that there is nothing more satisfying than sinking your teeth into a dense, fudgy, chocolately brownie, preferably laced with a generous potion of love and chocolate, that combine to enhance the overall feel good factor. Yes, there’s no denying that the brownies are the stars at Skrumptious, but there’s more to this venture than merely the melt in the mouth goodness of the brownies, (by the way, the brownies are to die for) so we caught up with Nilusha de Silva Founder / Managing Director to find out why her blossoming brownie business has caused a stir in the palates of connoisseurs of all things chocolate, in the city.

The secret of her sweet success

“I used to love baking ever since I was a child, but more than that I loved doing a business, meeting people, getting things done and not giving excuses. I’m passionate about baking, but it is not what drives my business venture, I’m driven by the need to streamline the efficiency of the process of creating a high end product that is consistent in quality and taste. I cultivated the habit of being efficient, because as a child I was trained to achieve the best in all that I did, this was inculcated by my parents. I used to complain about it back then and ask why all that was expected from me and my mother would often say “because I know you can do it”. So it came to a point where I realized that anything is possible if you had a passion for it, and had the determination to see it through. The secret ingredient in the success of my journey as an entrepreneur is the great combination of hard work and positive thinking; although a lot may think it’s the chocolate that we liberally sprinkle in our desserts.”

Back to the beginning

“The idea of starting Skrumptious came together while I was reading for my MBA at the postgraduate Institute of Management. Since then there has been no turning back. It was a blank canvas and I had the opportunity to make it out be anything I wanted. Baking brownies was not merely a result of my love for baking, it is a result of my passion for creating a business concept that can be set up anywhere in the world, that would be a first for Sri Lanka. I tried and tested different dessert recipes and mixes and decided that brownies were the most suitable for my capacity; from thereon it was a matter of perfecting that recipe and creating popular variations. When I quit my job and took up baking I was determined not to limit myself to just being a home baker. So, before setting up the business I identified that there was a vacuum for high quality baked goods, with a touch of home baked goodness that could be bought at the convenience of the customer and that’s the void that Skrumptious has filled in, with the opening of our outlet at Sulaiman Terrace.”

Irresistibly Skrumptious

The delightfully yummy Skrumptious dine in menu includes desserts such as Peanut Butter Cookie Stuffed Brownie, Fudgy Oreo Brownie Sandwich, Cream Cheese Swirl Brownie, Chocolate Mousse Supreme, double Chocolate Brownie Explosion, and Chocolate Biscuit Pudding Delight. Their signature drinks include the Skrumptious Signature Milo Shake, Lime and Mint Breeze and a selection of beverages such as milkshakes, juices and smoothies. “We have understood that the customer is looking for convenience when picking up a dessert, whether it’s to enjoy by themselves, share among friends or give as a gift. With that in mind, we have introduced ready to go packs in five varieties that come in easy to serve hassle free packaging, which are ideal as a gift for someone special. Also, products from our ready to go range don’t need to be refrigerated for up to 12 days, which is an added advantage.”

Move over competition- Skrumptious is here to stay

“We are often asked about competition, and we say we are aware of it. However, we have a unique concept and although the end result of baking brownies or selling desserts may sound common, the process of how we got there is what makes us different, it is what makes us stand out from the rest. And we believe that what sets us apart is not merely our product quality but the journey, the learning and mistakes that we have experiences during the past few years. “I must add that we are no ordinary dessert company. Over the past few years we have developed recipes which not only produce delectable goodies but also use lean production techniques which are unique to our business. These unique production processes are our greatest strength which gives us a competitive edge over others.” “While choosing the right ingredients is of utmost importance to me, our business venture is not merely based on the ingredients; they are just a small element in the entire process that we have conceptualized from scratch. Our energy as of now is spent on perfecting our customer service, which is yet another important aspect in developing our brand and taking it to the next level.”

Fueled by a deliciously ambitious dream

“This is our first outlet we are definitely in the process of looking at establishing more outlets in the future. Ever since Skrumptious was established we targeted the right kind of clientele who have remained loyal repeated customers. Our brand was already well known and we had created a name for ourselves in the brownie business, so it was only natural that the next phase of development included starting an outlet.” “We are always looking to improve on our business strategies, and provide our customers novel options of enjoying the delicacies offered in our lineup. As for the new offerings at the outlet, we hope to introduce waffles to our menu, and as usual we are always on the look out for innovative desserts that comply with our manufacturing process.” “Moving forward we are hoping to make Skrumptious an international company. We hope to be Sri Lanka’s first ever dessert company to launch our products in the international arena.”

Satisfy your sweet tooth

The Skrumptious outlet at Sulaiman Terrace is open from 11am to 10pm everyday. Selected products from their exciting lineup are available at Kapruka and wow.lk. Delivery is also available within the city of Colombo, Dehiwela and Mount Lavinia.