How Aman Bhatnagar and Dhairyasheel Khatavkar are Revolutionizing Hot Chocolate in India with Passion, Partnership, and Premium Innovation
When Aman Bhatnagar launched his first café in 2022, he didn’t know he was laying the groundwork for a national beverage brand. Like many young entrepreneurs, Aman and Dhairyasheel were driven by curiosity, dissatisfaction with the status quo, and an unshakable drive to build something better. What began as a café-side experiment has now become Blendonomics Industries Private Limited, a rising star in India’s artisanal beverage market.
“We couldn’t find the rich, creamy hot chocolate we often saw on Instagram reels,” Aman and Dhairyasheel recall. “Most of what was available was either too basic, like Bournvita, or lacked consistency. So, we decided to make our own.”
That moment of frustration turned into innovation and eventually, a business opportunity. Partnering with fellow entrepreneur Dhairyasheel Khatavkar, an engineering graduate with a knack for operations and growth consulting, the duo created a product that would go on to sell over 50,000 cups organically before ever hitting mainstream distribution.
Aman, a business and marketing graduate with experience as a Business Manager at Jaro Education, had always felt the pull toward entrepreneurship. His first venture, a vegetarian QSR brand called The Sandwich Project.Co, provided hands-on insight into the food and beverage world.
Dhairyasheel, his future co-founder, was no stranger to startups either. After working as an Operations Manager and independently consulting for cafés, he brought complementary expertise in systems thinking and customer engagement.
“We met through our mutual interest in cafés and food innovation,” Aman and Dhairyasheel say. “What started as conversations about café growth soon became brainstorming sessions about something bigger.”
The founders noticed a glaring issue in the café industry: quality hot chocolate was either hard to find or overpriced. Most cafés relied on low-end drinking chocolates or bulk mixes that lacked flavor depth. Premium options were reserved for upscale outlets and were often impractical for mid-sized businesses.
“Most cafés had to choose between subpar quality or overpriced products,” Aman and Dhairyasheel explain. “We knew there had to be a better way.”
Thus, Blendonomics was born: a B2B-focused, premium hot chocolate brand offering ready-to-mix sachets with artisanal flair. The company provides pre-portioned 50g blends that just require hot milk, eliminating inconsistencies and making it easier for café staff to deliver a perfect cup every time. With flavors like Hazelnut, Orange, Strawberry, and Original, their lineup adds a gourmet twist to a familiar comfort drink.
Blendonomics hit its stride when it crossed 100 café partnerships and celebrated its 50,000th cup served. This wasn't just a milestone; it was a message to the market that artisan beverages weren’t just for niche audiences—they were scalable, in demand, and capable of building brand loyalty.
“One moment that still stands out was when, during a temporary stock-out, some of our café partners refused to try any other hot chocolate brands,” Aman and Dhairyasheel say. “That kind of loyalty reaffirmed that we were doing something right.”
Expansion into regions like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand validated Blendonomics’ scalability.
“It showed us that our product could perform consistently, even in high-altitude or seasonal locations,” Aman and Dhairyasheel add.
While the company’s present is rooted in B2B, its future lies in Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) innovation. The idea to enter D2C was spearheaded by Aman, with Dhairyasheel backing it up, envisioning Blendonomics becoming a household name for premium beverage lovers across the country and eventually, the globe.
“In five years, we aim to be in over 1,000 café outlets, expand globally, and launch a full D2C suite,” Aman and Dhairyasheel say. “But it’s not just about numbers. It’s about becoming the go-to name for hot chocolate and flavored beverage premixes. We want to create a category.”
The team is also eyeing new verticals like matcha and flavored latte blends, an initiative that came from Dhairyasheel, with Aman backing it up, staying true to their ethos of simple preparation with uncompromised taste.
“We’re still blending, but now, it’s beverages and business strategy,” Aman and Dhairyasheel add with a smile.
Starting Blendonomics wasn’t without its fair share of hurdles. From inconsistent manufacturing to supply chain struggles, the team faced real-world startup challenges.
“We invested heavily in R&D and built strong local supplier networks. That helped us achieve consistency, even in our early days,” Aman and Dhairyasheel share. “One of our biggest wins was developing visual storytelling tools to help café owners understand the product quickly.”
Education became their superpower. Through sampling campaigns and word-of-mouth marketing, they turned skeptics into brand advocates.
“Once café owners experienced the convenience and taste of our product, there was no looking back,” Aman and Dhairyasheel say.
So what advice do Aman and Dhairyasheel have for those at the starting line of their own entrepreneurial journeys?
“Start with solving a real problem,” they say. “Listen to your customers, not just your gut. And don’t be afraid to experiment. You never know when a café-side idea can turn into a nationwide product.”
They also emphasize the importance of partnerships.
“Having a co-founder who complements your strengths makes a huge difference,” Aman and Dhairyasheel note. “One brought in operational clarity, while the other focused on the market and brand.”
Their synergy is one of the many reasons Blendonomics is more than just a product. It’s a movement toward elevating everyday beverages.
At its heart, Blendonomics is about more than hot chocolate. It’s about reimagining the ordinary, scaling the artisanal, and doing it all with intention. In a world filled with shortcuts, Aman and Dhairyasheel are taking the long road, focusing on quality, experience, and innovation.
Their journey is a reminder that great businesses often start with small, persistent efforts. Whether it’s a cup served at a local café or a sachet shipped to a remote town, each blend represents a bigger vision.
Follow Aman and Dhairyasheel’s journey, explore Blendonomics’ product offerings, or connect to collaborate. Whether you're a café owner, a beverage lover, or a fellow entrepreneur, this is one story worth brewing into your own.
Keep an eye on their upcoming D2C launch, and don't forget to check back for their Instagram reveal. There’s a lot more brewing at Blendonomics.
I am an entrepreneur, marketer, and mentor with a certification in entrepreneurship from IIT Delhi, one of the most prestigious institutions in India. I have a passion for connecting businesses with their ideal customers, solving real-world problems, and inspiring the next generation of founders.I founded and lead DevoByte, a digital marketing agency that provides a range of services, from SEO a
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