The Story
When H R Ramaswamy Iyengar came to Bangalore from Holenarsipura in 1956, little did he know he was on the verge of starting something that would soon become a household name. With an arsenal of five products, Iyengar set up his bakery in the quaint part of Bangalore, in Basavanagudi. True to the times, it was run by Brahmins but it catered to the tastes of all people alike. Soon, it became one of the most popular bakeries in the area, and the name Sreenivasa Brahmin’s Bakery or SBB became synonymous with assured quality.
A few years on, the war led to a shortage of flour in the open market. In looking for alternate ways to keep the bakery running, Iyengar then thought of introducing the mixture of peanuts with spices. Thus was born the famous Congress Kadlekai or Congress peanuts. Soon, congress became a most popular dish and today we sell at least a hundred kilograms a day. Whatever your political allegiance, we are sure this congress will win your heart!
Since he was ten years old, Iyengar’s youngest son, Ramaprasad had been going to the bakery daily. After school, he would go the store and help in father out. Right from then, he was aware of the workings behind and learnt quickly that customer was king. Tragedy soon befell the family when Iyengar passed away and Ramaprasad was all of 13. Soon due to family circumstances, Ramaprasad had to step up and he took charge of running the bakery.
When Ramaprasad took over the reins at 17 years of age, he had one vision – to run the bakery in the most successful manner and satisfy every customer. Though his goals are accomplished, he is far from resting. From being a humble bakery to now having automated most of the processes, this bakery still appeals to all. The family run business owes all the fame and success to Ramaprasad’s sheer hard work and relentless upholding of quality, and the next generation is getting ready to carry it all forward.
A bakery in Bangalore is not just cakes and pastries. Even with the advent of so much in the culinary space, we chose to stick to our core products. The bakery of today still has over 60 per cent of the products same as it was three decades ago. The innovations and new dishes are huge hits and even get absorbed into other stores’ menus – be it puffs, KBC (a spicy khara bun, butter and congress), oven baked nippats or potato buns.
The Business
Strangely, we never knew the extent of the waves we had been creating through the decades. Earlier only a household name in South Bangalore, SBB is now the hallmark of nostalgia for NRIs. Many of our customers order in bulk while going outside India, be it congress kadlekai, kodubale or nippat. We have even managed to supply 2000 kilograms of congress kadlekai at once to a customer in Texas.
Locally, we supply customised products to all major clubs in Bangalore including The Cosmopolitan Club, The Bangalore Club and Bangalore Golf Club among others.
On getting constant feedback from our patrons who have had to return empty handed thanks to the teeming crowds at times, we have acted upon them! With nearly 800 walk-ins everyday, we are bringing the same taste, quality and purity of our products to the overhauled new store. Designed in a supermarket fashion, customers can pick the items of their choice and we will bill it for them in no time. You can walk in and out with your favourite snacks in no time, and we can focus more on you!
The Signature Dishes
Congress
If you ever came to Bangalore and didn’t eat this Congress (yes, it is a dish), you have missed out on great taste, culture and some history too! A snack made of peanuts and spices, Congress or Congress kadlekai as it is called, is an array of tastes – chilli powder, asafetida, curry leaves and the right amount of oil that binds all tastes together. This signature product of SBB has been adopted by most other bakeries in town. So when in Bangalore, don’t forget to taste an authentic and original dish that goes well with tea, coffee, buns and just about everything else.
Baked Nippat
We sell nearly 2000 nippats a day! When rice flour and peanuts and spices are made into flat cakes to perfection, the result is SBB’s nippat. Traditionally a fried snack, SBB has started selling the baked version. This option in not only healthy, but equally, if not more tasty! This popular dish with a new twist has become such a hit that it forms the base ingredients for various fusion dishes and street food. Tuck in to the crunchy snack on a rainy evening, and you’ll know what the hype is all about.
Eggless Cakes
A recent introduction to the pantry, eggless cakes literally fly off the shelf! Made with great love and care, our cakes are offered in a range of flavours – chocolate, vanilla, pineapple and more. We ensure it is the best tasting as cakes mean special occasions.