Jahan Rezai, the co-founder of Jupiter 57 on the joys of sharing Italian food and culinary traditions, the power of panettone and his idea of a perfect weekend
Options: It has been over two decades since establishing Jupiter 57 with your mother, Giuseppina Pravato. What have been some of the most memorable moments?
Jahan Rezai: My mother originally founded Jupiter 57 as a sole proprietorship, and I started helping out during my university years and more so after graduating, before eventually taking over a few years later and structuring the business. We have countless stories from our adventures over the years! In 2009, she received a Knighthood (Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella della Solidarietà Italiana) from the Italian President, which was a huge honour and a proud moment for our family. There’s a lot of blood, sweat and tears behind the scenes which people don’t see. Another memorable moment was when I presented a historic confectionery producer to my mother, and she was immediately ‘transported’ to a vivid childhood memory, bringing a tear to her eye. It was powerful, and I loved that moment of discovery. It showed me that brands and experiences can be carried within us for a long time.
How did the name Jupiter 57 come about?
My mother was born in 1957 under the zodiac sign Pisces, which is traditionally ruled by the planet Jupiter.
You recently expanded to Malaysia. Why did it take 21 years, and what were the factors that gave you the confidence to go ahead?
Over the last couple of years, we started receiving more and more requests from overseas clients, which made me think that there are still gaps in certain markets for what we offer and, in particular, how we offer it. After conducting some market research, we decided to start with Malaysia as a logical first international market. We continue to grow year on year in Singapore and still feel we have a lot more to do here. However, we have plans to expand regionally, too. I have to say we are already surprised with the level of interest in Malaysia and the demand that is exceeding our original expectations. I know it won’t be easy, but I’m excited for what is to come.
It is also not easy to work with family. What do you enjoy most working with your multi-faceted mother?
I guess we strike a good balance between a structured ‘business school’ approach (me) and an ‘artisanal organic’ approach (my mother). There were clashes, but we somehow managed to work it out over time. We both love sourcing new brands to add to our portfolio and are very picky. But there’s nothing nicer than looking at a brand together and immediately knowing its potential without needing to exchange many words. It’s a mutual understanding or vibe we have.
What have been the best lessons she has taught you?
My mother’s generosity towards clients is what I try to emulate and convey to our team as much as possible; this ranges from free samples to a little gift with each purchase. ‘Business school’ would consider these costs to avoid. We, however, view them as investments in providing a good and memorable experience to clients, which builds our reputation and compounds over time.
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You are also a keen footballer. Do you still play?
I’ve played football my whole life and continue to play regularly for the Singapore Football Club, of which I was the founding club captain. My club of choice is Liverpool, but my favourite player without hesitation is Zinedine Zidane. An elegant player, his aura was unparalleled. He made everything look so easy and was always a step ahead of his opponents.
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What are you listening to right now?
More often than not, a podcast! Music-wise, I love this time of the year as I can get the classic Christmas playlists going for at least a solid two months. I like lo-fi too when relaxing and, to get pumped up, anything from jazz to hip hop and heavy electronic music. In my teens, I used to DJ and produce music as a hobby too.
Describe your idea of a perfect weekend in Singapore.
It should be super sunny, and I would eat breakfast with my wife and child, followed by a nice walk around the Botanic Gardens and then lunch. They would go home to rest while I went to play a football match to blow off some steam. At night, friends would come over for a barbecue, preferably with their kids who are the same age as my daughter. Sunday would be similar, but perhaps with a few hours at the zoo thrown in. We would chill out at the poolside, after which would be dinner with my parents, so that my daughter can spend some time with her grandparents, too. — As told to Diana Khoo
