A young engineering graduate from Jammu and Kashmir has turned his childhood dream into reality by starting a chocolate factory in his home village of Dooru, Anantnag district. The enterprise, named “Choco Delight,” aims to provide a sweet treat to the region while creating local jobs and encouraging entrepreneurship in an area often overlooked for industrial growth.
The founder, Abdul Rashid, is 27 years old and has always loved making chocolate. His passion grew from visits to candy shops during his college years. After finishing his engineering degree, he declined traditional job offers and returned to Dooru with a strong vision: to make quality chocolates using local ingredients. Rashid spent months researching recipes, production methods, and packaging before launching Choco Delight.
The factory is small but ambitious. It began operations earlier this year and offers a variety of products, including dark chocolate bars, nut-filled chocolates, and flavours inspired by local traditions like Kashmiri kahwa and walnut caramel. Rashid aimed to blend global tastes with local identity to give his products a competitive edge.
“Growing up, I often wondered why such beautiful and talented areas lacked opportunities for value-added industries,” Rashid said. “With Choco Delight, I want to do more than just make chocolates. I want to inspire young people in Dooru and nearby areas to think beyond traditional careers and consider entrepreneurship.”
Local villagers have embraced this initiative, with many feeling proud to see someone from their community pursuing a new path in food manufacturing. The factory currently employs 12 local workers, all trained by Rashid in production and quality control. There are already plans to expand the team and add packaging and distribution units, which could greatly benefit the local economy.
Choco Delight’s products are available in several towns across Jammu and Kashmir, and online orders are slowly increasing as more people learn about the unique chocolates from Dooru village. Rashid is also looking into working with tourism operators to make Choco Delight a cultural and culinary attraction for visitors.
