How Zed The Baker Is Making India Fall In Love With Parisian Hotcakes

Zaid Sait’s journey into the bakery business was rooted in his family’s 35-year legacy, where he witnessed the transformation of a small artisan bakehouse into a large-scale industrial bakery. This experience exposed him to the challenges and opportunities in India’s growing bakery market. 

Recognising the increasing demand for preservative-free, high-quality baked goods, he launched Zed The Baker in March 2018 with the mission of making fresh, artisanal products accessible to Indian consumers.

Bringing Authentic Parisian Bakery Culture To India

Zed The Baker sits comfortably between mass-market Iyengar bakeries and expensive global brands, offering premium baked goods without the hefty price tag. Inspired by authentic Parisian bakery culture, the brand delivers fresh, preservative-free offerings that maintain consistent taste, affordability, and hygiene. The D2C brand’s product line includes bestsellers like Belgian Chocolate Truffle, Tres Leches Cakes, Tiramisu, New York Cheesecake, and Butter Croissants, all crafted with a focus on quality and authenticity.

Unlike many premium brands that struggle with import costs and inconsistent raw materials, Zed The Baker prioritises local sourcing and precise inventory control to maintain the quality and freshness of its offerings. The brand’s positioning as an accessible yet premium bakery has resonated with consumers, allowing it to carve out a niche in the Indian bakery industry.

Expanding Its Footprint In India’s Bakery Market

Zed The Baker has steadily expanded, operating 10+ outlets across Bengaluru, strengthening its presence through a combination of retail stores and quick commerce integrations. Its online presence on Swiggy and Zomato ensures that customers across the city can enjoy fresh-baked goods with a 30-minute delivery guarantee. The offline strategy focuses on retail stores in prime locations to maximise foot traffic and build brand loyalty.

The brand has overcome several industry challenges, including maintaining shelf life for preservative-free products, educating customers about the benefits of artisanal baking, and scaling operations without compromising quality. By tackling these hurdles head-on, Zed The Baker continues to gain traction in a competitive market.

Growth Trajectory 

Zed The Baker recorded a revenue increase from INR 8.88 Cr in FY23 to INR 10.40 Cr in FY24, despite challenges related to inventory control and quality scaling. The brand is on track to achieve INR 14 Cr in revenue for FY25, driven by strategic retail expansion and a strong foothold in fast commerce. By 2026, Zed The Baker aims to operate 40 stores under its brand and sub-brands, tapping into strategic locations to bridge market gaps.

To support this ambitious growth, the D2C brand is focusing on a tech-driven, centralised production model that will streamline operations while maintaining product quality. 

With a team of 140 and over 1.6 lakh products sold to date, Zed The Baker competes against the likes of Theobroma, Café Noir, and Smoor.

[Authored By Anirudh Trivedi]