Entisi Chocolatier’s Nikki Thakker on Experience-Led Luxury Gifting, Artisanal Craftsmanship, and Redefining Premium Chocolate in India

StartupTalky presents Recap'25, a series of exclusive interviews where we connect with founders and industry leaders to reflect on their journey in 2025 and discuss their vision for the future.

In this edition of Recap’25, StartupTalky speaks with Nikki Thakker, Founder of Entisi Chocolatier, who shares how she is building a homegrown premium chocolate brand designed to match global luxury standards—both in taste and in gifting experience. Born from a deep personal love for chocolate and years of tasting international artisanal collections, Entisi was started with a clear vision: to elevate India’s chocolate culture through handcrafted products, fine ingredients, and thoughtful design-led presentation.

Nikki discusses how Entisi has expanded in 2025 beyond traditional chocolate retail into experience-led offerings, including live cookie counters, hot chocolate bars, DIY dragee dispensers, and immersive boutique formats that invite customers to engage with chocolate more interactively. The conversation also explores how the premium food and chocolate segment in India is evolving as consumers become more quality-conscious and experience-driven, and how Entisi is scaling carefully by investing in better systems, tighter quality control, and stronger omnichannel distribution across boutiques, e-commerce, and quick commerce—without compromising the artisanal DNA of the brand. She also shares key operating metrics the team tracks, the challenges of rising cocoa costs, and why sustainable luxury growth requires consistency, patience, and an uncompromising focus on core craftsmanship.

StartupTalky: What service does Entisi Chocolatier provide? What was the motivation/vision with which you started? 

Nikki Thakker: Entisi Chocolatier is a premium artisanal chocolate brand that creates handcrafted chocolates and gifting experiences through its boutiques and online platforms.

The motivation behind starting Entisi was very personal. I have always had a deep love for chocolate, and over the years of traveling and tasting chocolates globally, I felt that India lacked a homegrown brand that could stand shoulder to shoulder with international luxury chocolate brands both in taste and experience. The vision was to redefine chocolate standards in India, using the finest ingredients, artisanal techniques, and thoughtful design, while creating products that people would be proud to gift, celebrate with, and come back to.

StartupTalky: What new services have been added in the past year? What is/are the USP/s of your service?

Nikki Thakker: In the past year, we have expanded beyond just chocolates into experience-led offerings. This includes live cookie counters, hot chocolate bars, DIY dragee dispensers, and curated in-store experiences that allow customers to engage with chocolate in a more immersive way.

Our USP lies in our end-to-end control from recipe development to production, packaging, and retail. Everything is made in-house using 100% pure cocoa butter, high-quality couverture chocolates, and carefully sourced ingredients. Equal attention is given to how our chocolates are presented and packaged, ensuring that the visual experience matches the quality inside. The focus on craftsmanship, freshness, and thoughtful design sets us apart from mass-produced offerings.

StartupTalky: How has the industry you are in changed in recent years and how has Entisi Chocolatier adapted to these changes?

Nikki Thakker: The premium food and chocolate industry in India has evolved significantly. Consumers today are far more informed, willing to experiment, and increasingly value quality, provenance, and experience.

We adapted by strengthening our systems to scale without compromising on quality. Alongside refining recipes and packaging, we invested in better production processes, tighter quality controls, systems, and more efficient operations to support higher volumes while maintaining consistency. At the same time, we expanded our omnichannel presence across physical retail, e-commerce, and quick commerce, ensuring that growth is driven by both reach and experience, not trade-offs.

StartupTalky: What key metrics do you track to check the Entisi Chocolatier's growth and performance?

Nikki Thakker: We track a combination of financial, operational, and customer led metrics to evaluate growth and performance. These include overall revenue growth, store-level and channel wise profitability, gross and contribution margins, repeat customer rate, and average order value. We also closely monitor Sales MIS, which helps us identify trends, evaluate new business development opportunities, assess product and channel performance, and make informed decisions on expansion. In addition, metrics such as inventory turns and shelf life efficiency ensure that growth is sustainable and operationally sound.

StartupTalky: What were the most significant challenges Entisi Chocolatier faced in the past year and how did you overcome them?

Nikki Thakker: One of the biggest challenges was managing rising raw material costs, especially cocoa, while maintaining quality and price integrity. Another challenge was scaling operations without compromising the artisanal nature of our products.

We addressed this by improving internal efficiencies, tightening production planning, selectively revising pricing where necessary, and being very intentional about which products and channels we scale. Staying focused on core strengths helped us navigate these challenges without diluting the brand.

StartupTalky: What are the important tools and software you use to run your business smoothly? 

Nikki Thakker: We use a combination of structured software and flexible digital tools to ensure smooth operations across teams. Platforms like Zoho and CRM systems like Salesforce help us manage sales, customer data and inventory. Alongside this, we rely heavily on Google Sheets and Google Dashboards for live tracking of sales, production, inventory, and performance metrics, allowing teams to access real-time updates and stay aligned. This balance of robust systems and adaptable tools helps us maintain transparency, accountability, and speed as we scale.

StartupTalky: What opportunities do you see for future growth in your industry in India and the world? What kind of difference in market behavior have you seen between India and the world?

Nikki Thakker: India is at a very exciting stage when it comes to premium consumption. The opportunity lies in homegrown luxury brands that can deliver global quality with local relevance.

Globally, consumers are already accustomed to paying for craftsmanship and brand legacy. In India, the shift is happening now, customers are increasingly valuing quality, authenticity, and experience over just price. This presents a huge opportunity for Indian brands to build global credibility while staying rooted in their origin.

StartupTalky: How do you plan to expand the Customers, service offering, and team base in the future?

Nikki Thakker: Our focus is on sustainable expansion, opening boutiques in key markets, strengthening our digital presence, and introducing new product formats that align with the brand. On the team side, we are investing in leadership roles across operations, growth, and brand, while continuing to build skilled teams that understand both quality and scale.

StartupTalky: One tip that you would like to share with another Service company founder?

Nikki Thakker: Focus on building something you genuinely care about, not just something that scales quickly. If your product or service is strong and your values are clear, growth will follow. Stay patient, stay consistent, and don’t dilute your core just to chase short-term wins.

Explore more Recap'25 interviews here.