EP-351 | Fled Iran’s Revolution & Built a Bakery Empire in India | L’Opéra Founders

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