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EP-351 | Fled Iran’s Revolution & Built a Bakery Empire in India | L’Opéra Founders
Description
Kazem Samandari is the Executive Chairperson and Co-Founder of L'Opéra, one of India’s most prominent French bakery operations. Christine Samandari-Hakim, his wife and co-founder, played a key role in developing the bakery’s concept and brand identity.
In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Kazem and Christine Samandari share their experiences as Baha’is in pre-revolutionary Iran, and the challenges their families faced during the Islamic Revolution.
They also talk about how their son’s love for French pastries inspired L’Opéra, following a year of preparation. The couple explains why India is the ‘El Dorado’ for startups, innovators, and entrepreneurs, offering ease of doing business and living.
Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction
01:32 – Story of Christine Samandari
06:32 – Story of Kazem Samandari
08:44 – Iran Before the Islamic Revolution
15:36 – Christine’s Father’s Assassination
17:35 – The Baha'i Faith Community in Iran
21:45 – What Is the Baha'i Faith?
29:22 – Connection with Iran
33:39 – Journey to India
37:54 – Story Behind French Bakery L’Opéra
42:48 – Sourcing Ingredients for L’Opéra
47:29 – Was India Ready for a French Bakery?
54:55 – Expanding Beyond Delhi
57:03 – Was India the Right Choice for L’Opéra?
59:06 – Ease of Doing Business in India