“From a young age, food was at the heart of everything in my life. I started baking as a child and even sold my creations as a teenager. But it wasn’t just a hobby—it was a passion that kept growing.

When COVID hit, I found myself blending my two biggest strengths—baking and writing. I launched a food blog, diving into food photography and writing about my love for food. Then, in 2021, everything changed when I moved to Australia to be with my partner. This move opened doors I didn’t even know existed, and with my partner’s constant support, Anka Cookie Co. came to life in December 2023.

Anka started humbly with a small soft launch. We shared our cookies with friends and family, using their feedback to perfect our craft. I took charge of the baking, while my partner managed everything else—packaging, social media, and partnerships. Together, we learned to build our website and navigate the complexities of starting a business from scratch in a new country.

The journey hasn’t been easy. We faced setbacks, from being rejected by markets to starting out with no marketing budget. But we were determined to get our cookies into people’s hands. My partner, ever the extrovert, pushed us to spend weekends at the Yarra River, giving away cookie samples to passersby. That grassroots effort worked, and slowly, we started building a loyal customer base.

Australia embraced us, and through pop-up stores, market research, and sheer perseverance, Anka Cookie Co. has grown beyond our expectations. We discovered that people love soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookies, which have become our signature offering. Now, most of our customers are people we’ve never met, and the demand keeps growing.

Anka Cookie Co. is more than just a business—it’s a labor of love. We’re working toward making it our full-time venture, and hopefully, opening our own space soon. It’s been a rewarding journey, and we’re excited for what’s ahead.” Savini Gauri

Video edited by Shreya Kantawala