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-Article by Khwaish Hingad [cbedit@imaws.org]
Kolhapur, a key hub for food lovers with wide variety of restaurants, cafes and bakeries in western Maharashtra, is bleeding due to the lack of trained and skilled labor. Despite the city’s deep food legacy dating back nearly a century, with just 12 bakeries in 1926 growing to 35 by 1947, bakeries across Kolhapur struggle to find qualified staff familiar with modern baking methods, hygiene standards, and high-precision equipment.
On the other side, when it comes to restaurants, despite being part of a heavily taxed industry with GST, income tax, FSSAI, and bar licenses, unfortunately, restaurant owners feel don’t get enough support from the government when it comes to training this essential workforce.
Santosh Baburo Badekar | Partner, The Khemraj Bakery says, “One of the biggest challenges in the bakery industry is the lack of skilled labor, largely due to the absence of a strong community and educational support system like those seen in IT, hospitality sectors, or any other sectors. There’s a pressing need for recognition, respect, and structured courses that encourage students to consider baking as a viable and respected career path.”
He also says that “While the government has taken steps to support us, we urge them to go further by introducing specialized programs and connecting us with graduates. Universities, too, must play a role in promoting and integrating bakery-related courses to build a sustainable future for this industry.”
Across India, and especially in heritage-rich centers like Kolhapur, bakery owners voice concern that attracting and retaining skilled talent is harder than ever. The absence of formal educational pathways is acutely felt in smaller cities and towns.
“We had created initiatives like the Wednesday Club, a training-driven collaboration among 10 hoteliers in Kolhapur. We trained youth from local villages from scratch and many are still with us after 20 years. We’ve helped them buy homes, improve their families’ lives, and work in peace. Because when you support people, they support your business. That’s how real trust and transformation begin.”, says Sachin Shanbaug, a hospitality leader in Kolhapur, and the newly-elected president of the Hotel & Restaurant Association, Kolhapur. According to him, labor is the backbone of the food industry and that true transformation can only come by supporting and uplifting workers at every level, starting with trust and training. “I’ve recommended starting basic vocational training programs, even for those who’ve failed 10th or 12th grade. Teach them not just baking or cooking, but cover their basic needs: ‘Anna, Vastra, Niwara’ (food, clothing, shelter), and also help them earn money the fourth human need.”, Satish avers.
As per market information, Kolhapur has a few good catering institutes, 90% of those trained students leave Kolhapur for Mumbai, Pune, or abroad, where they earn more. We’re losing talent. We’re working to build a culture where the bakery and hotel industry becomes ‘Come, Earn & Learn.’ Earlier, this line of work was seen as inferior only for pot cleaning or table wiping. But today, it’s a creative, vibrant, and ever-evolving industry with new cuisines and customer demands: Asian, Continental, Turkish, Japanese, and more. We need skilled people to match this demand but we cannot train them all on our own.
With growing demand for innovation and aesthetics, industry veterans in Kolhapur like Ujwal Nageshkar assert that machinery alone cannot replace the finesse and creativity of trained people. In Kolhapur and beyond, there’s a need to empower local talent and entrepreneurs to take ownership of the industry’s future.
Ujwal Nageshkar who owns Hotel Castle in Kolhapur says , “The bakery industry today faces a serious labour shortage not just due to low pay, but because it’s still seen as an unorganised and less prestigious sector. While automation and modern machinery have reshaped production, there remains a strong need for skilled manpower especially in areas like cake decorating and flavour innovations.
“The future lies not in waiting for government support, but in upskilling through private training institutes and empowering entrepreneurs, especially women, who are now a strong force in this evolving field. What was once a labour-driven trade is now a creative, flexible, and thriving industry with tremendous scope in both rural and urban India. But for the industry to truly flourish, it must drive its transformation.”, he added
For industry veterans like Shaban Sheikh, the inability to attract young talent has as much to do with prestige and perception as with pay. He believes standardization, better branding, and structured career pathways are essential if the industry is to move from survival to aspiration.
“In the bakery industry, there is a consumer base, but the aspiration and standards we aim for often go unacknowledged from both the industry and the public. Unlike restaurants of the same caliber, local bakeries don’t receive the recognition they deserve.
We’ve also been at fault for staying conventional and not driving innovation or setting benchmarks. Today, anyone can open a bakery with no standardized entry requirements, which reinforces our image as an unorganized sector. says Shaban Sheikh, Owner, Hindustan Foods
Sheikh, who is an expert in GST taxations and is from the family of traditional bakers for generations in the city feels, until we create value, offer better wages, and build aspirations into careers through education and management courses, we cannot expect change. “The government should enforce compliance and support not only the organized players but also uplift those falling behind in revenue and standards. As an industry, it’s time we evolve, benchmark ourselves, and start selling not just products but dreams and careers.”
With growing attention on quality and the well-being of workers in Kolhapur’s thriving bakery sector, several industry leaders are calling for meaningful reform and more thoughtful policy to ensure a sustainable, modern future. As consumer habits shift with younger generations seeking higher wages and modern work environments, Satyajit Rajaram Khade, President of Kolhapur’s Bakery Association, emphasized how many bakery owners are also taking responsibility for quality, emphasizing trust and transparency to stand apart from mass-produced alternatives.
“There is a growing career in the bakery industry, but to make it attractive, we must offer competitive pay especially since the new generation prefers working in malls and air-conditioned spaces, which often pay more than bakery jobs. At the same time, we must maintain high product quality. Doctors now urge people to avoid breads made with excessive palm oil found in many imported products, which can harm health and contribute to heart disease and high cholesterol. As an industry, we must be responsible and provide better-quality products,” says Satyajit Khade, Owner of Kedarling Bakery.
“I am committed to using local ingredients—wheat, ghee, butter, and other high-quality inputs—even if this increases costs. The result is healthier, more trustworthy products for our customers. There is also a need for smarter government policy. The GST markup for bakeries is 18%, while sweet shops pay only 5%, despite selling products for ₹800–2,000/kg, compared to our typical price range of ₹80–120. This should be addressed to create a fair industry landscape. Furthermore, subsidies for machinery would support small bakeries unable to afford these investments, especially when heavy taxes are already a significant problem,” he adds. “In Kolhapur, many people from outside the city seek work, while locals prefer employment in malls and other climate-controlled environments. Notably, women form a large and highly efficient part of my workforce—something that should be recognized and encouraged across the sector.”
India’s bakery sector is on track to leap from USD 13.8 billion in 2024 to over USD 31.5 billion by 2033, propelled by rapid urbanization, rising disposable incomes, shifting dietary habits, and the expanding footprint of organized retail and e-commerce. While classic favorites like bread, biscuits, and cakes continue to dominate consumption, there’s a surging demand, particularly in metros for artisanal, premium, and health-focused baked goods.
From national metros to regional hubs like Kolhapur, India’s rising bakery industry is full of potential but potential alone won’t sustain it. Without a skilled, respected, and motivated workforce, productivity will suffer, quality will dip, and innovation will slow. It is time for governments, educational institutions, and the industry itself to unite in building structured paths for training, career advancement, and labor dignity.
