LancasterThriving_Summer2017 - 11
by Christina Maldonado, a fellow caterer who specializes
in Puerto Rican cuisine. She asked for advice on hiring a
manager who could run the day-to-day operations of the
multi-channel business. Instead of advice, Maldonado
offered to take the job.
"If you are serious, I don't want you as an employee,"
Dasgupta told her. "I want you as a business partner."
The two catering companies merged to form Global Flavors
Catering, a division of Upohar Ethnic Cuisines, which now
also runs Christina's Criollo, a stand at Lancaster Central
Market, and the seasonal food truck. The business operates
out of a kitchen on James Street, where the company
recently announced it would open a takeout window for-
you guessed it-lunch.
But Dasgupta has not abandoned plans to reopen a
restaurant elsewhere. Besides, she says, the James Street
kitchen is at capacity. The food truck is booked for the
summer. And catering is booming.
"Because of those two visibility channels (the food truck and
market stand), we are getting a lot, a lot, a lot of catering
business," Dasgupta says.
It's probably too early to call Upohar's story a true success,
but Dasgupta has come a long way toward realizing her
vision as a social entrepreneur. Especially considering the
challenges she's faced along the way.
"Even if I had said I'm going to close this business altogether,
I don't know that I would have called it failure," she says,
reflecting on the low points. "It has demonstrated what
works and what doesn't and why it doesn't work."
She still sees the enterprise as a science experiment, testing
hypotheses. That's why she encourages other entrepreneurs
to include proof of concept in their business plans.
"If it fails, do it early and do it with minimal damage," she
advises. "For every mistake that I have made, I would not
have found those unless I did a trial run."
And in her case, she had the good fortune of employees
who pushed her to keep experimenting. One might even
say, they've been a "gift." LT
BY ADAM AURAND,
Director of Marketing and Public Relations,
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
Contact Adam at:
aurand@stevenscollege.edu
LancasterChamber.com
11
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