Kathmandu, March 25 -- In 1985, Rajuman Pakhrin was guiding a couple of German nationals on the Ghorepani trek when a conversation changed the course of his life. These Germans were proprietors of the German Bakery in Jawalakhel.

"They asked me if I wanted to learn how to bake," says Pakhrin, who had been a cook before turning to work as a trekking guide.

The Germans left their card and asked Pakhrin to swing by the bakery whenever possible. Once the guided tour was over, Pakhrin, who was then in his late teens, enrolled himself as an apprentice at the Bakery, making Rs 500 a month.

Three decades later, Pakhrin, now 51, has injected approximately Rs 7 million in capital into Lemon Tree, which has two components-a complete bakery shop i...