Know About Startup Bringing Italian Culture to Ahmedabad Campanella

Campanella: Bringing Italy to Ahmedabad

If you were to ask a child what they want to be when they grow up, you’d receive some interesting answers. For siblings Kritika and Ronit Thakur, their childhood delight came from serving meals in front of the family, eagerly awaiting their reactions. These moments led to the idea that one day they would do something together that related to food!

A trip to Capri, Italy, was when the idea took shape. The cafés, the food, and the warmth of Italian culture left an impression on them. When they returned home, they brought with them a souvenir ceramic bell to signify positivity and prosperity in their lives. Years later, when it came time to name their rooftop café, they thought of Campanella, which means simply “a little bell” in Italian. In fact, even their logo was designed with the idea of a bell shape with ocean waves at the base, with memories of Capri in their minds.

Establishing the Vision

Kritika was working on a Diploma and an MA in Culinary Arts Management, and would be gaining experience in restaurants on the side, but bringing the concept to fruition in the form of a café posed a lot of obstacles. The siblings had no experience in business, so when trying to plan the concept and develop a staffing model, as well as trying to pull in authentic raw material, they quickly faced some obstacles. Dad played a vital support role, helping the two navigate everything, from lanning layouts to operational excellence. They complemented the hand of being parents supporting them with food consultants, and their idealised vision became obstacles which manifested as stepping stones in the Cafe journey.

Establishing the Italian Experience

Today, we walk into Campanella, and it opens with an array of cosy interiors, with separate indoors/outdoors (patios), and dishes and flavour profiles which document the Italian experience. As for Kritika and Ronit's best reward, it is when customers reflect the exact experience of a visit to Capri: simplicity, warmth and soulful flavours.

Important Takeaways for Entrepreneurs
Their story emphasises important takeaways: ask for help, give yourself grace on failures, and stay steadfast to your vision. As Kritika says, "Find a balance between time to be restless, and time to be patient." Ronit said, "Give your 100% everyday." 

Campanella demonstrates that passion, persistence, and authenticity can take a family memory and make it into a successful small business.