How 8th Pass Businessman Shivratan Agarwal Built Bikaji Foods Into Rs 13,000 Crore Snack Brand

Shivratan Agarwal, despite only completing his education up to the 8th class, rose to prominence as the founder and director of the Bikaji brand, a household name in India known for its bhujia, namkeen, packaged sweets, papad, and other snacks. His journey is a testament to the power of experience and determination in entrepreneurship.

Bikaji, an Indian snack company, started exporting to Australia in 1996. In 2006, they teamed up with other businesses to grow. They opened their first store in Mumbai in 2008 and expanded across India over the next few years.

They have six factories in Rajasthan, Assam, and Karnataka, and also use a contract factory in West Bengal. Bikaji's founder aimed to share authentic Indian flavours globally, and they're known for their innovative snacks.

According to a Moneycontrol report, Bikaji's sales rose by 30% in 2022 to Rs 1611 crore, mainly from selling snacks like bhujia and namkeen. But their profit was Rs 76 crore for the year. In the three months ending in June 2022, their sales were Rs 419 crore, with a profit of Rs 15.7 crore.

Early life of Shivratan Agarwal

Shivratan Agarwal | Photo: Bikaji

Born into a family with a rich legacy in the bhujia making business, Shivratan Agarwal inherited a passion for snack-making from his grandfather, 'Gangabhisan Haldiram Bhujiawala' and father, 'Moolchand'. In 1987, he decided to carve his own path by launching his Bikaneri Bhujia business, later renamed as Bikaji brand in 1993.

The road to success was not easy for Shivratan. He faced numerous challenges, especially in introducing his brand to the global market. Despite the lack of technological advancements at the time, he persevered, adopting machinery to scale up production and even travelling abroad to learn about snack-making techniques.

Bikaji: The Journey Begins

In the 1980s, Shri Shivratan Agarwal founded Bikaji, embarking on a journey to create his own path. Determined to manufacture Bhujia on a large scale, he explored the world for the best technology, ultimately finding success.

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Laying the Foundation

Despite the lack of technology, Shri Agarwal laid the groundwork for Bikaji, researching and co-inventing innovative techniques for Bhujia production. In 1986, Shuvdeep Food Products was established as a partnership, setting the stage for Bikaji's future.

Introduction of Bikaji

Shivratan Agarwal | Photo: Youtube

In 1993, Bikaji officially entered the market, quickly gaining popularity. Within a year, the brand expanded overseas, exporting products to the UAE. With growing demand, Shivratan realized the need for Bikaji to stand on its own.

Establishing Identity

In 1995, Bikaji transitioned from a partnership to a public limited company, solidifying its identity and paving the way for further growth and success.

World's largest producers of bhujia

Under Shivratan's leadership, Bikaji transformed the unorganised bhujia manufacturing sector into a thriving industry. Today, Bikaji stands as one of the world's largest producers of bhujia, boasting a significant global presence.

To further enhance its brand image, Bikaji strategically enlisted megastar Amitabh Bachchan as its brand ambassador, launching the 'Amitji Loves Bikaji' campaign to solidify its position in the market.

IPO

Moreover, Bikaji took a significant step by entering the stock market with its IPO opening for subscription on November 3, 2022. This move reflects the company's ambition for growth and expansion.

Shivratan Agarwal's journey from a modest beginning to building a multi-crore rupee enterprise serves as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of experience, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of one's dreams.

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