Zeba Kohli

Zeba Kohli (born 19 February 1966) is an Indian Chocolatier, Philanthropist & Entrepreneur.

Zeba is the Managing Director of M/s. Good House Keeping Company Pvt. Ltd. The company focuses on the manufacture of Fantasie Fine Chocolates & Confectionery. Fantasie Fine Chocolates is a brand of handmade chocolates.

As a director of M/s. Ahmed A. Fazelbhoy Pvt. Ltd also, she owns Sunville Banquet Halls in Worli, Mumbai. Zeba heads and directs, M/s Sunstar Confection & Trading Pvt. Ltd, which provides Catering and Decoration Facilities. She is the Proprietor of Zee Enterprises, which is a Company involved in trading activities of Chocolates and Confectionery. Furthermore, she is a Trustee with Munir Fazelbhoy Memorial Trust, which was set up to educate the underprivileged.

Profile

Zeba is the Granddaughter of Ahmed. A. Fazelbhoy who started the business of Fantasie Fine Chocolates. Zeba was highly involved in the manufacturing and marketing of Fantasie Fine Chocolates since her childhood days. Zeba did her schooling from Queen Mary High School in Mumbai. She went to H. R. College for HSC and chose to graduate in commerce from Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics of Bombay University. When her mother took control of the shop, Zeba started devoting her free time to the management of the shop. She even carried out the role of a sales-girl at times.

She took over the family business at the age of 18. She attended several chocolate making courses and workshops around the world. She is a member of many clubs in Mumbai and has been an ACTIVE member of The Rotary Club for 30 years. Certain other organizations that enjoy her role include The Maharashtra State Women’s Council and varied Social welfare organizations. She is an honorary ambassador of the board for the world’s largest manufacturer of chocolates: Barry Callebaut and a World Chocolate Master Judge.

Zeba is also the managing director of Good Housekeeping, which majorly focuses on the hospitality industry. It consists of restaurants and wedding halls. Its major focus lies on manufacturing and selling of Fantasie Fine Chocolates.

She holds a crucial role on the working of the Sunville Banquets in Mumbai. Apart from handling all these businesses, Zeba is also engaged in conducting classes in chocolate making at Karen Anand’s Gourmet Academy located in Mumbai. She was responsible for bringing Lindt and Sprungli of Switzerland into India and has been marketing it for 15 years here. The Chocolate Lady is being featured in the book, Inde, la revolution par les femmes, by Dominique Hoeltgen and in 'Confessions to a Serial Womaniser: Secrets of The Worlds Inspirational Women' by Zerbanoo Gifford.

Fantasie Fine Chocolates

She took over the family business at the age of 18. She attended several chocolate making courses and workshops around the world. She is a member of many clubs in Mumbai and has been an active member of The Rotary Club for 30 years. Certain other organizations that enjoy her role include The Maharashtra State Women’s Council and varied Social welfare organizations. She is an honorary ambassador of the board for the world’s largest manufacturer of chocolates: Barry Callebaut and a World Chocolate Master Judge.

Philantrophic activities

Zeba participates in vast philanthropic endeavors. She is a trustee of the Munir Fazelbhoy Memorial Trust, which focuses on the cause of education of the underprivileged section of the society. Her altruism was carried on in her professional life as she hires economically disadvantaged people in her workforce. Zeba holds an annual event called Project 7, which is a platform for entrepreneurs to represent their work. It is majorly for people from different lifestyles who come together and celebrate creativity, the spirit of entrepreneurship and an opportunity for entrepreneurs to represent their work. Zeba has been organizing similar exhibitions for entrepreneurs for over 12 years.

Multimedia

Zeba has had numerous Television appearances in niche shows on Lifestyle and Premium channels like CNN and NDTV Good Times. Articles and Interviews of Zeba have appeared in Magazines and Newspapers since she was 16 like The Times of India, BBC Good Homes, UpperCrust, Society & Harpers Bazaar to name a few.

Along with Ad Man and Kailash Surendranath, she has made a short-film on Mahatma Gandhi. In an innovative stroke of brilliance, they have attempted to propagate Gandhi’s message of peace, harmony, and humanity by creatively using references to chocolate, for example, an artificial chocolate-made warzone.

Awards & achievements

Zeba has won Several Awards as a Chocolatier, a Philanthropist and an Entrepreneur. Some of these include The Award for Platinum Woman of India by Femina, The Chocolatier of the year Award, innumerable TIMES FOOD AWARDS and many Rotary awards. Besides this, she is being invited as a Judge on various food competitions and as a Motivational Speaker for young women entrepreneurs.

Year	Award
1993 - 94	PDG Dr. Shirish Sheth Trophy for outstanding Rotary Performance by a new member for the year.
1997 - 98	Service Citation Award for Exemplary Service for the Roatary year.
1998 – 99	Best Committee Trophy for Youth Service Award for the Rotary year.
2001 – 2002	Dr. Narendra Pandya Trophy for Outstanding Service in Non Medical Sector for Rotary year.
2002 – 2003	Recipient of the P P Yoginder Shankardas Trophy for Service to Youth.
2003-2004	Awarded Late Firoze Baldiwala Trophy for Distinguished Service, by Rotary Club of Bombay Mid-Town as “The Most Active Rotary Couple”
2005	Won the award of the Times of India “TIMES FOOD AWARD” in the category of BEST CHOCOLATIER for the year.
2007	Won the award of the Times of India “TIMES FOOD AWARD” in the category of BEST CHOCOLATIER for the year.
2008	Won the EVA- Yami Award by ITC Welcome Group
2007-2008	Recipient of the Late Usha Lalvani Trophy for “Best Lady Rotarian” by the Rotary Club of Bombay Mid- Town.
2008-2009	Has been appointed as Honorary Council Member of Executive Council for the year 2008 -2009, The Indo – Belgian – Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
2008	Won the award of the Times of India “TIMES FOOD AWARD” from TIMES FOOD GUIDE PUNE 2008-09 in the category of "BEST CONFECTIONERY-FANTASIE FINE CHOCALATE" for the year.
2008	Won the award of the Times of India “TIMES FOOD AWARD” from TIMES FOOD GUIDE MUMBAI 2008
2008	Won the award of the 8th Indira Marketing Excellence Award “ BRAND LEADERSHIP AWARD” from Indira Group of Institutes, Pune
2009	Won the award of the Times of India “TIMES FOOD AWARD” from TIMES FOOD GUIDE MUMBAI 2009-10 in the category of “BEST CHOCOLATIER -FANTASIE FINE CHOCOLATE" for the year.
2009	Recipient of the “Golden Alumnus Award” H. R. College of Commerce & Economics on September 19, 2009 received from Mrs. Dr. Indu Shahani , Sheriff of Mumbai and the Principal the H. R. College of Commerce & Economics.
2010	Won the award of the Times of India “TIMES FOOD AWARD” from TIMES FOOD GUIDE PUNE 2009-10 in the category of "BEST CONFECTIONERY-FANTASIE FINE CHOCALATE" for the year 2010.
2010	Won the award of the Times of India “TIMES FOOD AWARD” from TIMES FOOD GUIDE MUMBAI 2009-10 in the category of “BEST CHOCOLATIER -FANTASIE FINE CHOCOLATE" for the year 2010.
2010	Being featured by Dominique Hoeltgen, Journalist – Author, Paris – Mumbai in her new book ‘Inde, la revolution par les femmes.
2010	Invited as woman achiever to address trust members on panel of speakers on the occasion of International Day by SHAILA trust on 11 March 2010
2010	Awarded in the field of Entrepreneurship by Giants Group of Byculla on the Occasion of International Women’s Day on 6 March 2010.
2010	Invited as woman achiever to address young women entrepreneurs, on panel of speakers on the occasion of the re launch of YFLO, the Youth Wing of FLO Bombay Chapter on 2 April 2010 by FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry).
2010	Invited as Guest of Honour at SHAILA BAZAAR (Shaila Welfare Trust) to be held on Thursday, 9 September 2010 at Hotel TAJ PRESIDENT, Cuffe Parade.
2010	Invited as a judge to grace the project “Snacks & Salad Contest” by Giants Group of Byculla conducted on Monday 20 September at Mazagoan.
2011	Won the award of the Times of India “TIMES FOOD AWARD” from TIMES FOOD GUIDE MUMBAI 2010-11 in the category of “BEST CHOCOLATIER - FANTASIE FINE CHOCOLATE" for the year 2011.
2011	Won the award of the Times of India “TIMES FOOD AWARD” from TIMES FOOD GUIDE PUNE 2010-11 in the category of "BEST CONFECTIONERY-FANTASIE FINE CHOCALATE" for the year 2011.
	Zeba Kohli is the part of the Gold Leaf Banquets which is the endeavor of Chef Sanjeev Kapoor and Chef Milind Sovani.
2012	Won the award of the Times of India “TIMES FOOD AWARD” from TIMES FOOD GUIDE MUMBAI 2012 in the category of “BEST CHOCOLATIER - FANTASIE FINE CHOCOLATE" for the year 2012.
2012	Won the award of the Times of India “TIMES FOOD AWARD” from TIMES FOOD GUIDE PUNE 2012 in the category of "BEST CONFECTIONERY-FANTASIE FINE CHOCOLATE" for the year 2012.
2012	Won the award of "I Ate Here Award" from Mouthshut.com for Best Choco delights category for the year 2012 for Fantasie’s Warden road, Bandra outlets.
2012	Won the award of "Best Desserts and Bakes” from Zomato.com and Citi Bank for the year 2012 for Fantasie’s Pune outlet and also featured in the Citi Bank & Zomato.com restaurant guide 2012.
2012-2013	Zeba Kohli was on the panel of judges at the 2012-2013 Mumbai edition of the World Chocolate Master hosted by Callebaut. She has also been appointed an Indian honorary ambassador by Barry Callebaut.
2013	Won the award of the Times of India “TIMES FOOD AWARD” from TIMES FOOD GUIDE PUNE 2013 in the category of BEST CONFECTIONERY-FANTASIE FINE CHOCOLATE" for the year 2013.
2013	Won the award of "Best Desserts and Bakes” from Zomato.com for the year 2013 for Fantasie’s Pune outlet and also featured in Connoisseurs guide to eating out.
2013	Won the award of the Times of India “TIMES FOOD AWARD” from TIMES FOOD GUIDE MUMBAI 2013 in the category of “BEST CHOCOLATIER - FANTASIE FINE CHOCOLATE" for the year 2013.
2014	Won the award of the Times of India “TIMES FOOD AWARD” from TIMES FOOD GUIDE MUMBAI 2014 in the category of “BEST CHOCOLATIER - FANTASIE FINE CHOCOLATE" for the year 2014.