Suyesh Shankar, a digital marketing and technology professional and his merry band at youjustcook.com (YJC) set out with a vision to change the way Bangalore eats. It was a pretty big dream, but they believed that everyone should have access to the best ingredients and the knowledge to cook them. Not just the expert chefs and the enthusiasts.
All too often we either spend more than intended time at the supermarket, or even don’t know the full cost of our many visits. With promotions and special offers, it’s hard to know exactly how much we are spending on a regular basis. At YJC, they source all the ingredients for a recipe including vegetables, meat, cheeses and gourmet ingredients. Veggies and meat are washed, cleaned and cut based on the recipe and sent to you along with the relevant herbs, spices and grains. Masalas and sauces are sent ready to be used. All you need to do is just cook. The icing on the cake is all ingredients are delivered to your doorstep by the next day along with clear instructions for preparation.
When we asked Suyesh about the concept, like most big things it started with a small personal experience is what he says. “I am used to cooking different dishes over the weekends with a pantry full of sauces, herbs etc. which I end up wasting as most of them have a use by date. Also getting ingredients meant doing trips to different shops to get the best that is available. Once I decided to become an entrepreneur I started talking to many of my friends and colleagues to get their feedback. The response was positive so I decided to build a website and start the business.” Today the success of YJC is a prime example of how when you notice the small things, the rewards are inversely proportional.
No journey is easy and the team at YJC has had their own share of challenges along the way. Ask them about any that stand out and this is what they have to say. “To start with not being from the hospitality industry was one big challenge we had to overcome, which we have eventually done (most customers love the output of our dishes). The other key challenge was to scale the business without any external capital source. That’s why we started YJC: The Food Club which essentially is a dine-in and cookout facility at Hennur. We also do catering for house parties under this brand. This helps us with cash flows and brand recognition that is invested in the flagship youjustcook.com service. “
Customer isn’t always right but if you don’t listen to them your business won’t be either! This is the mantra which is central to the team at YJC. Having been in the business for a year now, and servicing hundreds of customers has given them a fair bit of knowledge about the clientele. They have constantly worked on the increasing the variety of cuisines and recipes based on feedback and this has been pivotal to their success. The customer testimonials on their site are a small evidence of how they are well on track to make the big difference they originally set out to achieve.
Ask them about the future plans for YJC and here is what they had to say, “YJC has a long way to go until it realizes its vision of helping people serve delicious and fresh meals to their family and friends. Our products & service will evolve over time to help realize that vision.”
We wish the team at YJC success for all their future endeavours, and hope their vision of bringing the best of world cuisines into everyone’s kitchen in Bangalore be a reality soon.
Do visit the YJC website and start placing your orders today. Also, keep checking their facebook page for regular updates on all the delicious dishes that are available for you to just cook.
Images Courtesy Of: You Just Cook