Sundri Ramesh – The Saree Cake Pioneer

Sundri Bakes & Bites was founded by Ms Sundri Ramesh, a home baker and cake stylist that specialises in custom design and contemporary cakes, cookies, and desserts. She is widely known for her Indian-themed cakes, particularly her Saree Design cakes which went viral in 2017 with her first creation. Over the years, her Saree cake has been a much sought-after gift for engagements, pre-wedding events, and birthdays. 

A HR Manager by profession, Sundri opted for an early retirement at the age of 50 in 2015. She then chose to pursue her passion for baking and decorating cakes, through which she has been collecting and serving a satisfied clientele since 1997. At first, Sundri was hesitant to turn her hobby into a business. She enjoyed baking as a stress reliever and didn’t want it to become a source of stress. However, as orders started pouring in, Sundri realised that she could turn her passion into a profitable venture. “It was quite a nerve-racking decision which I made as I was not sure of the target market at that time or if I would be able to sustain myself doing this,” says Sundri.

During the time after her retirement, Sundri would create custom cakes and also give classes to enthusiastic students. It was only after she created the Saree Cake that she began getting recognition both domestically and internationally. Some of her clients would travel from Johor to Nilai to pick up their custom cake orders. “There was also once when my client brought my cake from Malaysia to Australia for her wedding. For these custom orders, I would have to plan the design thoroughly as it would need to be packed for long-distance travel,” explains Sundri. 

Her passion for baking and decorating stunning cakes could be felt as she explained further on her journey so far. She loves the challenge of designing a unique cake for each special occasion. Every cake is special and she strives for perfection with each one to make it a special centrepiece for guests to admire.  That’s her inspiration – seeing people happy and the reason she loves what she does.  

Sundri’s love for baking has extended beyond just creating delicious treats. She enjoys teaching others the art of baking and sharing her knowledge with them. She started offering private baking classes in her home kitchen, and soon, her classes became so popular that she had to move them to a larger space. Sundri’s success as a professional baking instructor is a testament to her passion and dedication to the art of baking. She continues to teach and inspire others to follow their dreams of becoming bakers. She believes that with the right tools, knowledge, and passion, anyone can become a skilled baker. 

Sundri is an HRDF-certified trainer, and, to date, she has taught more than 700 students over the past 3 years in physical classes and has more than 1,000 students in her online classes. Seeing many of her students succeed in their baking journey gives her much joy and a blessed feeling that she was able to help many housewives become successful homepreneurs. Sundri is also overjoyed that she managed to guide professionals in taking baking as an alternative income stream to create part-time businesses during difficult times.  

Among Sundri’s achievements are as follows; 

• 2017 – Sundri Bakes & Bites was awarded by Amazing Cake Ideas, USA for World’s One of a Kind Cake Designer (2nd runner up) 
• 2022 – Sundri Bakes & Bites was awarded by Small Medium Indian Business Association (SMIBA) – Excellence Business Icon 2022 Award 
• 2022 – Sundri Bakes & Bites was awarded by India’s Tamil Nadu Small & Tiny Industries Association – 2022 Emerging Business Award  

With all her achievements in creating and guiding many home bakers, she has caught the attention of many media outlets in Malaysia and internationally over the years. Sundri has also been interviewed live on TV by Astro Vizhutugal and Vanakam Malaysia on their YouTube channel. 

Sundri’s journey from a home-based baker to national recognition is a testament to her talent, hard work, and dedication. She never gave up on her dream of becoming a professional baker, and her passion for baking has now made her a household name. Sundri’s success story is an inspiration to anyone who wants to pursue their passion and turn their dreams into reality.