How a Millet Cake Turned a Jodhpur Baker into a National Sensation

 

A few years ago, Jodhpur-based Amit Soni was given a challenge by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) to create millet-based desserts. He experimented with bajra (pearl millet) and successfully made a chocolate truffle cake. Little did he know that his creation would soon be enjoyed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a high-profile event.

Following His Passion

Coming from a family of jewelry artisans, Amit took a different path. After working in sales and event management, he discovered his love for baking. He trained professionally in Mumbai and Thailand before launching his own bakery, RDz 1983, in 2019—a tribute to his parents, Ramesh and Durga.

Mastering Millet-Based Baking

His bakery initially sold traditional cakes and bread, but a request for a bajra chocolate cake sparked his interest in millet-based products. Despite many failures, he perfected a gluten-free millet cookie after 96 attempts. Today, his millet cookies and cakes are sold across India and exported to Bahrain and Dubai.

A Family Business with Big Dreams

His younger brother, Dr. Sumit Soni, later joined him in creating healthy and innovative bakery products. Together, they produce 150 kg of cookies daily, serving 15,000 customers a month and generating an annual revenue of ₹1.5 crore.

National Recognition and Future Expansion

Amit’s bakery gained national attention after the Prime Minister’s endorsement, leading to orders for UN meetings, government ministries, and the G20 summit. Now, he plans to expand to Ethiopia, Germany, and Georgia.

"When passion and hard work come together, success follows," Amit says, as he prepares his next batch of millet cookies—this time for CRPF jawans.

 

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