5 Entrepreneurs who built crore brands from traditional Indian foods

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Eating nutritious, seasonal and local foods has been a tradition in Indian homes for ages. Sattu was the protein drink of eastern India long before protein powders became popular. Millets were the staple of communities across semi-arid regions, cold-pressed oils were extracted in traditional ghanis, and hemp seeds were consumed in the Himalayan belt for their nutritional value. Over time, however, industrial food processing, refined ingredients and changing lifestyles pushed many of these traditional foods to the margins. Today, a new generation of entrepreneurs is bringing them back, not by selling nostalgia, but by reimagining them for modern consumers. Their startups are improving quality, packaging and branding, ensuring consistency, meeting food safety standards, and creating products that fit contemporary lifestyles. Whether it is ready-to-mix sattu drinks, premium cold pressed oils, hemp seed snacks or A2 ghee from desi cows, these founders are proving that age-old foods can thrive in modern retail. The opportunity is significant. Consumers are increasingly looking for minimally processed, nutrient-rich foods with authentic origins. Traditional foods already enjoy cultural acceptance and are backed by generations of usage, giving startups a strong foundation on which to build trusted brands. As consumers rediscover wholesome foods, farmers benefit from higher-value markets, and startups build profitable businesses in categories that continue to grow. Here are 5 entrepreneurs who built crore brands from traditional Indian foods: 1. Sachin Kumar’s Sattuz: Giving Sattu a National Identity When Bihar entrepreneur Sachin Kumar launched Sattuz, he noticed that sattu, despite being a staple in eastern India, lacked a strong organised brand. Most consumers bought it loose from local mills, with little assurance of quality or hygiene. Sachin transformed this traditional flour into a professionally packaged product, offering convenient, ready-to-use options while retaining its authentic taste. Strong branding, modern packaging and online sales helped introduce sattu to customers far beyond Bihar. Today, Sattuz has grown into a business with annual revenues of around Rs 2 crore, demonstrating that even a humble regional staple can become a national brand. 2. Tushar Talware’s Fudonik: Making Millets Mainstream Mechanical engineer Tushar Talware saw an opportunity when health-conscious consumers began looking beyond refined grains. Through his startup Fudonik, he developed a range of millet-based foods that combined traditional grains with modern convenience. Instead of selling raw millets alone, the company focused on value-added products like millet noodles, pasta, snacks, and khakra that appealed to urban families seeking healthier everyday meals. Attractive branding, product innovation and growing awareness around millets helped the venture expand rapidly. Today, Fudonik has built an annual turnover of around Rs 1.5 crore, showing how India's ancient grains can fuel a successful modern food business. 3. Pavitra Joshi's Kumaon Khand: Turning Hemp into a Premium Brand The communities in the Himalayan region have been using hemp (Cannabis sativa) for ages as food, medicine and for textiles. However, it remained largely misunderstood despite its long culinary history in the region. Kumaon Khand recognised the untapped potential of hemp seeds as a nutritious superfood rich in protein and healthy fats. The company introduced professionally packaged hemp oils, seeds and food products while educating consumers about their legal status and nutritional benefits. By combining scientific information with premium branding and online retail, the startup created trust in an emerging category. The strategy paid off, helping Kumaon Khand build a business with revenues of around Rs 1 crore while creating a market for a largely overlooked traditional ingredient. 4. Manohar Iyer’s Saptham Taila: Bringing Cold-Pressed Oils Back to Indian Kitchens After a successful corporate career, Manohar Iyer founded Saptham Taila to address the growing dominance of refined edible oils. He believed traditional cold-pressed oils offered both nutritional value and authentic flavour but lacked organised branding and consumer awareness. Saptham Taila revived traditional extraction methods while investing in modern manufacturing, quality control and consumer education. The company gradually expanded its range to multiple cold-pressed oils and other traditional staples, creating a premium food brand built on transparency and authenticity. Today, Saptham Taila generates over Rs 10 crore in annual revenue, demonstrating the commercial potential of combining traditional wisdom with professional entrepreneurship. 5. Charmy and Shreekant Malde’s Gauneeti: Turning A2 Ghee into a Premium Traditional Food Brand Engineers Charmy and Shreekant Malde saw that while desi cow A2 milk and ghee enjoyed immense trust in Indian households, consumers struggled to find authentic, traceable products. They founded Gauneeti to bridge this gap by sourcing milk from indigenous cow breeds and producing traditionally prepared A2 ghee with complete quality assurance. Rather than competing on price, the couple positioned the brand as a premium, health-focused product rooted in India's dairy heritage. Their emphasis on authenticity, transparency and exports helped Gauneeti grow into a Rs 2 crore turnover business, with its products reaching customers in the UAE and Australia. (US Anu is a Madurai-based writer. She specialises in stories around human interest, environment and art and culture.) Look up our YouTube Channel