What started as a small home-based snack business has now turned into one of the most promising local food brands in Thimphu. Dorji Mendu Zangmo, the founder of Zhayzhim Chips, began her journey in 2023 with just a few ingredients, a love for cooking, and a dream to turn her homemade snacks into a successful business.

Operating from her own kitchen at home, Dorji produced a variety of local snacks, including potato chips, fried peanuts, French fries, banana chips, and more. Her products were not only delicious but also affordable and loved by customers across town.

However, running a growing business from a small kitchen was not easy. Limited space and equipment meant she couldn’t produce in large quantities, even as demand continued to rise. “It was getting difficult to keep up with orders,” Dorji recalls. “I knew that if I wanted to grow, I needed a bigger space and better facilities.”

That long-held dream finally came true when she was offered a spot at the Startup Center in Changzamtok, a dedicated space created to support small and emerging businesses. The new space has allowed her to expand her production, improve packaging, and fulfill more orders with ease.

“I’m really thankful to the Startup Center,” she says. “It gave me the space and the support I needed to take Zhayzhim to the next level.”

Today, Zhayzhim Chips proudly produces ten different snack items, including:

• Potato chips
• Veg-Juma (vegetable sausage)
• Banana chips
• French fries
• Finger chips
• Fried peanuts
• Nimki (crispy flour snack)
• Popcorn
• Dry fish pickles
• Other homemade treats

These snacks are now found in many shops across Thimphu, with demand continuing to grow. Customers appreciate the fresh taste, local ingredients, and consistent quality. Zhayzhim’s snacks are quickly becoming a household name, especially among younger consumers looking for tasty and affordable local options.

Dorji’s success is not just about selling snacks — it’s also about creating a business that supports herself, provides for her family, and inspires others, especially women, to follow their entrepreneurial dreams.

She plans to continue expanding her business by improving packaging, exploring delivery options, and eventually distributing her products to other Dzongkhags. “This is just the beginning,” she says. “I want to grow Zhayzhim into a brand that represents the best of homemade Bhutanese snacks.”

Zhayzhim Chips is a perfect example of how small businesses, when given the right support and space, can thrive and make a big impact. Dorji Mendu Zangmo’s journey from her home kitchen to a fully equipped startup facility shows that with dedication, courage, and community support, dreams really do come true.