 CHONG ZI LIANG |
Shrestha is the man behind almost every Nepali sweet - from the hard variety like Orange Balls, Yoyo and Mango Tart to toffees like Lovebirds and Lactofun, chewing gum like Sujal Gum and wafers like Chocofun. On top of that he runs a dairy, a printing factory and has started distributing Hyundai cars in Nepal.
But 62 year old Shrestha never tires: "I'm never content," he says, "Otherwise, I would stop growing." And grown he has.
Making chocolate is something that his family has been doing for generations, passing the skill down the line. In the first few years that he started selling it commercially, the entire family would get involved, making at least 10kg of chocolate a day.
Like almost everyone in Pokhara, a taxi driver recognises Shrestha as the 'Chocolate King of Nepal'. More than 30 years ago, as an eighth grader, he remembers lining up for sinkes - chocolate rolled up on a stick - at Shrestha's shop - a tiny tin-cart erected in front of his house. Each piece sold for 5 paisa then. "Sometimes, he'd give us some for free, knowing that we'd come back for more," the taxi-driver laughs.
When sales began to pick up, a new hand-operated machine was bought. As the business gained momentum, his brother, Buddhiman Shrestha, took over the technical aspects, and the pair set out to grow the business. "During those days, we worked like dogs," says Shrestha, describing how they worked at their small factory for more than 16 hours a day. In 1981, the brothers launched their own brand called Mala Mithai in Kathmandu. From here, things went from strength to strength. They started importing more complex machinery to manufacture their confectionary and established Jaya Ma Laxmi Confectionaries, Sujal Foods, Jaya Packaging, Safal dairy and Sujal Plastics.
Now, years later, the brothers' adult sons are taking over the business. (Their daughters are doctors). Although he still remains at the core of the company, Shrestha is pursuing other interests too. He funds scholarships for commerce and management students, has coordinated a campaign for a pollution-free Seti Gandaki and funds a number of other programs as a Lions Club member. At his own office, he is planning to create a museum displaying the first hand-held machine he used to print sweet-wrappers.
But in spite of his successes, Shrestha remains firmly grounded. His sleek office is above his childhood home, where he sold his first chocolates. Asked how it feels to be on the top, he says, "When I look back, I feel I was happier. Nothing can exceed the satisfaction of getting something when you don't have much."
