Keep up with the trend and be the game changer.
This is the philosophy of Alvin Nair, co-founder of Rosy Hearts.
The bakery began its operations in Laucala Beach in the late 1990s and has since become a household name, with 70 dedicated staff members stationed across seven branches around Fiji.
While many businesses were cutting back during the pandemic last year, Rosy Hearts took a leap of faith by opening their very first Labasa branch. “Since we are the only cake shop in Labasa, excitement was at its highest when we opened,” he said.
Nair says creativity in Fiji’s pastry industry has greatly improved since his parents started the bakery two decades ago, with quality products now available.
Nair says the bakery’s signature product is the Black Forest cake.
His biggest inspiration is his father, Mahendran Nair, who is a “go-getter” and ready to take risks,” Nair testifies.
Supporting local communities has also played an integral role in the Rosy Hearts journey. From blood donation drives to rugby sevens initiatives, Nair says it’s important to give back to the community as people have always supported the family business.
His advice to aspiring food entrepreneurs is to start with something unique.
This article first appeared in Fiji Traveller, January 2023.
