BY Suchana Mishra

Oho Cake started operation in Kathmandu Valley in 2011 as an online bakery store. From decadent chocolates to crisp butterscotch, the online cake store has been painting occasions with delight. Although begun right after the COVID pandemic, Oho Cake stood resilient and has become a cherished part of celebrations in Kathmandu Valley. With products like jar cakes, picture cakes, and designer delights, it has woven a tapestry of sweetness, delivering to their clients not just desserts but also creating moments of pure bliss. Over the years, Oho Cake has unfolded as a story of resilience, sweetness, and the art of celebration, where every bite whispers the magic of joy.

Santosh Pandey, one of the promoters of Oho Cake, learnt about Nepali e-commerce scene through his venture 'Offering Happiness' - a gifting startup. It provided him valuable insights into consumer preferences and the demand for quality products and services in the celebration industry. Noticing the popularity of cakes in celebrations and the lack of consistent quality and service in existing cake companies in Kathmandu Valley, Pandey saw the space for Oho Cake. It is common for bright minds to leverage their previous experiences and observations to identify gaps in the market and launch new ventures to address those gaps.

"We initiated the journey with the vision of establishing a renowned cake business, recognising the gap in the market and the unmet needs of our customers," Pandey shared with New Business Age.

Oho Cake was launched by Pandey and his friend Dibyesh Giri, who currently lives in the US and has a background in IT. In spite of the difficult economic environment created by the COVID pandemic, which resulted in the closure of numerous enterprises, the time proved to be favourable for the food delivery industry. Cakes did not have any trouble attracting customers even during lockdowns. Pandey and Giri did their research properly while entering the world of cakes. The two looked at what the customers needed and discovered places where they might surpass potential competitors.

According to Pandey, Oho Cake has grown manifolds from an investment of Rs 100,000 investment to recording an annual sales figure of more than Rs 5 million in the Kathmandu Valley. The venture sets itself apart from the usual trend of people ordering cakes online or through delivery services that frequently purchase their goods from other businesses. "Oho Cake ensures the prompt delivery of freshly baked cakes to our customers within 45 minutes of placing an order," said Pandey. "Our philosophy is straightforward: prioritise the customer's time, and your business will thrive."

Oho Cake can create more than 500 customised cakes every single day utilising modern equipment and technology. At the moment, the venture is handling more than 100 cake orders per day. Even though the services are only available in the Kathmandu Valley right now, the co-founders have already drawn out big expansion plans. 

"In the initial phase, Oho Cake exclusively operated through online platform deliveries. We recently inaugurated our first physical outlet at Tinkune," Pandey said. "We want to become the biggest cake chain in the nation."

The following year will be devoted to focusing on growth inside Kathmandu, with the ultimate objective of expanding to other significant cities. The ultimate goal is to establish Oho Cake into a well-known national brand.

Getting into the cake industry has been an enjoyable venture for Pandey. Pandey said that since Oho Cake brings happiness and festivity to its customers, it gives pride, satisfaction and comfort to him. "Our clients frequently convey their gratitude to us. Their encouraging words fill us with great joy and motivate us to keep getting better," he added.

Oho Cake takes pride in making its cakes in-house. "Our order management software, designed for chefs, dispatch, delivery, and customer support, runs perfectly from a cloud-based kitchen and is powered by innovative technology," Pandey said. Oho Cake continues to be at the forefront of innovation. It stands apart in the market by constantly introducing innovative patterns, attractive forms, and a variety of flavours. The company's dedication is focused on making cakes in-house using premium ingredients, so that their products are always of the best quality. They take pride in introducing international flavours to Nepali consumers, all at appealing price points.

"Our quick delivery services demonstrate our continuous dedication to client satisfaction. We value promptness without sacrificing quality, whether you require exceptional one-hour service or same-day delivery. Our delivery network spans three carefully chosen hubs in Kathmandu: Baneshwor, Ratopul, and Maharajgunj. This allows us to deliver orders quickly and efficiently from these locations," Pandey explained his modus operandi.

Oho Cake claims it to be the only cake brand in Nepal that has a corporate segment specifically designed to meet the unique cake needs of companies and businesses. According to Pandey, this personalised service highlights their commitment to meeting the various demands of both corporate and individual clients.

Oho Cake is now firmly established as one of Nepal's fastest-growing cake businesses thanks to its rapid rise in the sector. It employs 35 full-time workers. Likewise, they work with 15 outside delivery riders in addition to their own staff.

Oho Cake has also trained many young people in baking and pastry making, which has greatly contributed to their education and career. It is constantly looking for people who have returned from working abroad. Likewise, it has partnered with a number of ecosystem players, such as marketplaces, payment processors, shipping companies, and food distributors.

Oho Cake has a big expansion strategy. "The following year will be devoted to focusing on growth inside Kathmandu, with the ultimate objective of expanding to other significant cities. The ultimate goal is to establish Oho Cake into a well-known national brand," Pandey added. Oho Cake has gained attention for its commitment to putting customers' needs first through positive reviews, getting a remarkable 4.2 rating on Google and a 4.3 rating on Pathao Food. Oho Cake's ongoing exploration of and appreciation for customer reviews and evaluations is evidence of its continuous commitment to improving services.

Oho Cake has also built a solid reputation by forming reliable alliances with more than 50 businesses. By addressing a variety of celebration requirements, such as staff birthdays, partner events, and client anniversaries, these collaborations help to further establish their reputation as a dependable and in-demand brand.

Oho Cake has a strong online presence on a variety of platforms, food aggregators, and marketplaces. Through the strategic utilisation of social media, it maximises brand awareness and interaction. One significant component of its advertising strategy is having national cricketer Lalit Rajbanshi as its brand ambassador. The venture also works with influencers to extend their reach on social platforms.

Analysts and industry experts consider Oho Cake's entry into the Kathmandu market to be a significant move. It appears that the company's expansion goals will transform the food scene by utilising creative approaches and keeping a laser-like focus on client delight. OhoCake considers invention as its driving force and dedication as its secret ingredient. The fundamental principle of Oho Cake is in its dedication to ingenuity, expertly merging tastes, patterns, and a dash of happiness with each mouthful. Their motivation is straightforward yet effective: to transform commonplace events into unforgettable experiences.