Today we’d like to introduce you to Aarti Garehgrat, Purav Patel.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Aarti and Purav. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Bagel Dots officially began operations in the Summer of 2014. Prior to that, Aarti, the founder, had been moving through the fast-paced world of corporate America for almost a decade before she decided to follow her dreams and make Bagel Dots a reality.
After graduating from the University of Texas, Aarti moved to New York City to work at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
During her time in New York, she became accustomed to eating some of the best bagels in the country. It was here that Bagel Dots first came to her. What happened to the center of the bagels? And how amazing would it be if these bagel holes were stuffed with different fillings? She daydreamed about this for quite awhile until finally one day, she decided to roll up her sleeves and knead out some dough. Bagel Dots were born! And just as she had always imagined, they were delicious!
In March of 2016 Bagel Dots entered HEB’s Quest for Texas Best contest. HEB Quest is a statewide competition where local food and drink entrepreneurs are given the chance to present their product to a panel of judges for a cash prize and the opportunity to be included on shelves. Out of over 500 applicants, Bagel Dots was chosen as one of the top 25 finalists and went on to win 1st place! We officially launched in April 2017 into 205 HEB grocery stores throughout Texas!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has certainly not been a smooth road but every challenge has been an opportunity to learn and grow. One of the biggest challenges was trying to figure out how to scale production. We struggled to find a manufacturer who had the capability to produce a product like Bagel Dots. In the end, we had to get very involved in the process of creating a manufacturing line. We took a leap of faith and purchased some specialized machinery and figured out a system that worked.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Bagel Dots – what should we know?
We develop, manufacture, market and sell frozen bite-sized bagels filled with cream cheese called Bagel Dots. We have a retail product currently available in 205 HEB grocery stores throughout Texas and a bulk Food Service product available in local Coffee Shops like EQ Heights Cafe and Dandelion Cafe in Bellaire and on rotation at the buffet at the JW Marriott hotel in downtown Houston.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
We are always seeking advice and willing to learn from others. We also have implemented a very lean startup mentality which makes us focus our resources (time, money, energy) on the 1-2 pressing items that matter the most at that moment. Running lean has also made us very agile and quick to adapt when needed.
Pricing:
- Bagel Dots are $4.98 for a frozen bag of 1 dozen found at HEB in the frozen breakfast aisle
Contact Info:
- Address: 1560 Eldridge Pkwy #140 Houston, TX 77077
- Website: www.bageldots.com
- Email: info@bageldots.com
- Instagram: @bageldots
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bageldots
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