Flavors from the Past: Iyengar Bakery's Story of Success

Withstanding the test of time, the bakery has paved the way for the cafe culture in Bengaluru while also quite literally homing one of the most recognized Iyengar communities of the South. With their delicious assortment of sweets and snacks, they’ve earned their success within and outside the metropolitan area. Naturally, it is quite uncommon to come across a Bangalorean who hasn’t heard of Iyengar Bakery.

Iyengar Bakery is one of the oldest existing bakeries in Bangalore. (Source: MouthShut.com)

Iyengar, a title that was usually associated with Tamil and Kannada Brahmins in the past, has become synonymous with the bakery chain in Bengaluru in recent years. The popularity of this bakery series shrouds the turbulent yet significant past of an entire immigrant community.  This is also the reason why the two cannot be talked about separately since their backgrounds are so rigorously intertwined.

With a typically humble beginning, the bakery was first established in 1898, under the name 'Bangalore Brothers Bakery'. H. S. Thirumalachar and his brother, the first of their kin to start the business, hailed from the district of Hassan in Karnataka. Ironically, a bakery that is known today for its specialization in catering to Indian baked goods wouldn’t have been started if it wasn't for a particular English gentleman from the West End Hotel and a regular at the B.B. shop, who taught the brothers the art. Initially dealing with the sale of sweets, the brothers soon expanded to selling fresh baked goods in their shop. Situating their shop in the Chickpet area, one of the oldest and most highly commercial streets in Bangalore, was an obvious advantage as their business kicked off with as much enthusiasm as it still does today.

The current 4th generation owner, H.T. Srinivas, admits that the bakery might not bring in a humongous annual income, but it surely is something to take pride in. Most importantly, the franchise has a lot to be proud of historically, since the people are more connected to their past through the medium of their products. The distinguishing quality of their goods has been recognized throughout the generations. Since their products are prepared on a daily basis, customers can purchase them without worrying about their freshness. The buns, bread, and biscuits are the common products that the customers usually come in for, but their cakes, veggie puffs, and coconut specialty sweets get sold just as quickly. The franchise has managed to maintain the standard of its products due to its use of high-quality ingredients in spite of the increasing costs. Their dedication to catering to the customers' demands has led them to expand their menu to include pizzas, burgers, and other modern-day fast foods since they fall more in line with the tastes of the new generation.

The beloved bakery chain’s influence is not limited to its customers. In fact, a whole generation of Bangalore bakers has been inspired by them. The success of the first Iyengar bakery became so widely known that it triggered a whole phenomenon of migration for the Iyengar community at large. Not only were they encouraged to set up their own businesses, but it pushed them towards a more urbanized form of livelihood. Moreover, the unfortunate drought of 1950, especially affecting the Hassan district, further increased the desperation of the inhabitants to look for other means of survival. Since government jobs were not easy to come by, getting into the baking business became one of the more popular ways for the Iyengar migrants to earn an income.

Over the years, the Iyengar Bakery outlets have significantly increased, as has their range of products. As a mark of success, their baked goods are widely talked about in online food platforms, blogging sites, and newspaper articles and are in high demand, even with food delivery partners. Unlike fancy bakeries, they provide filling, good-quality food items that cater to both vegetarian and non-vegetarian customers at a comparatively cheaper price. Due to this, most customers who have grown up on these snacks and sweets tend to remain loyal patrons of the shop for almost their entire lifetime.

Currently, there are more than 180 registered Iyengar bakeries all over India, with the most popular ones obviously located in Bengaluru. Out of these, the original bakery located in Chikpet, V.B. Bakery in Puram, S.B.B. in Gandhi Bazar, Iyengar Bakery in Jaynagar, and Austin Town are the most popular. With the much-acclaimed success of their goods and serving as a means of livelihood for many, the bakery chain that has managed to connect people to their past through their food has certainly also vindicated that the way to one's heart is through their stomach.