Have you ever wondered who is behind your favorite chips or soda brand? We all have our go-to snacks, whether it’s Aaloo bhujia, Lays chips, a chilled bottle of Pepsi, or the classic favourite, Maggi. But have we ever paused to consider who created these brands? India’s food and beverage sector is a thriving landscape, bolstered by the contributions of several prominent billionaires. These industry leaders have made remarkable strides across a diverse range of ventures, including soft drinks, fast food, consumer goods, dairy products, snacks, and alcohol.
Their innovative approaches and strategic investments have not only shaped the market but also influenced the daily lives of millions of consumers. By examining the journeys and achievements of these influential figures, we can gain a deeper understanding of the dynamic forces driving India’s food and beverage industry.
Ravi Jaipuria
Ravi Jaipuria, with a net worth of $16.9 billion, is a major player in India’s soft drinks and fast food market. At 69 years old, Jaipuria has carved out a significant presence in the industry through his company, RJ Corp. His business empire includes franchises for PepsiCo products and fast food chains like Pizza Hut and KFC in India. Jaipuria’s strategic expansions and successful partnerships have positioned him as a leading figure in the sector.
He is the India’s cola king, Ravi Jaipuria, presides over RJ Corp. which is into everything from beverages and fast food to healthcare and education. His listed flagship Varun Beverages is one of PepsiCo’s biggest bottlers outside the U.S. It got PepsiCo’s International Bottler of the Year 2022 award.
Nusli Wadia
Nusli Wadia, aged 80, has a net worth of $4.8 billion. He leads the Wadia Group, which encompasses several well-known brands in the consumer goods industry, such as Britannia Industries and Bombay Dyeing. Wadia has played a pivotal role in modernizing these brands and expanding their market reach, thereby cementing his status as a prominent industrialist in India. He is often referred to as a corporate samurai by the Indian press for waging numerous legal battles. One of which is against the Tata Group and his former pal Ratan Tata, who got him ousted from the boards of three Tata firms in December 2016. Wadia’s son Ness co-owns Indian Premier League cricket team Kings XI Punjab.
Acharya Balkrishna
Acharya Balkrishna, with a net worth of $3.8 billion, is a key figure in the consumer goods market. At 51, he is the driving force behind Patanjali Ayurved, a company that has revolutionized the Indian market with its range of natural and ayurvedic products. Educated in the Guru-Shishya Parampara at the Gurukul at Kalwa (Jind, Haryana) under the guidance of Late Acharya Shri Baldevji. Balkrishna’s leadership and vision have propelled Patanjali to become a household name in India, emphasizing health and wellness.
Harsh Mariwala
Harsh Mariwala, 73, has a net worth of $3.7 billion. He is the chairman of Marico, a leading consumer goods company known for brands like Parachute, Saffola, and Hair & Care.
In 1990, Mr. Mariwala founded Marico and transformed a traditional commodity-driven business into a leading consumer products and services company in the beauty and wellness space and got it listed in the Indian stock exchanges. Later, Mr. Harsh Mariwala incepted Marico Innovation Foundation (MIF) as a not-for-profit organization in 2003, that strives to nurture innovation in India across the business and social sectors.
Mariwala’s innovative approach to business and his commitment to quality have helped Marico grow significantly, both in India and internationally.
Kishore Mariwala
At 89, Kishore Mariwala has amassed a net worth of $2.9 billion. Like his brother Harsh, Kishore has been instrumental in the success of Marico. Born in 1935, Kishore Mariwala pursued his Bachelor of Science in Engineering at the University of Mumbai (now known as the Institute of Chemical Technology), followed by a Master of Science in Engineering from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
His business acumen and strategic insights have played a crucial role in steering the company towards sustained growth and profitability.
Vivek Chand Burman
Vivek Chand Burman, 87, with a net worth of $2.9 billion, is a prominent figure in the consumer goods sector. He is associated with Dabur, one of India’s oldest and largest consumer goods companies, known for its range of health and personal care products. Dabur was started by his great-grandfather in 1884 to sell ayurvedic medicines. He joined the company in 1954 and became chairman in 1998 holding that post for close to a decade. Burman’s leadership has been vital in maintaining Dabur’s legacy and expanding its product portfolio.
Anand Burman
Anand Burman, aged 72, has a net worth of $2.4 billion. Also connected with Dabur, Anand has played a significant role in the company’s growth and modernization efforts. He was born in Kolkata, India, 1952. Holds a degree in B.Sc. in Chemistry, University of Wisconsin; M.Sc. in Chemistry, University of Kansas; PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas.Dabur Foods was integrated with Dabur India in 2007. Following the intra-group rearrangement, the family entrusted Amit with a stronger position in its flagship firm, naming him Vice Chairman of Dabur India. His strategic initiatives have helped Dabur stay competitive in a rapidly changing market.
R.G. Chandramogan
R.G. Chandramogan, 75, has a net worth of $2.0 billion. He is the founder of Hatsun Agro Product, India’s largest private dairy company. Chandramogan has been associated with the dairy business for over 50 years now and his contribution to Arun has been remarkable. Chandramogan is a businessman based out of Tamil Nadu. Chandramogan failed the mathematics portion of his pre-university course (PUC), which served as a prerequisite for college study, fifty years ago. Chandramogan’s dedication to quality and innovation has made Hatsun a leader in the dairy industry, providing a wide range of dairy products to consumers across India.
Amit Burman
Amit Burman, 54, with a net worth of $1.7 billion, is another key member of the Burman family associated with Dabur. Amit has been instrumental in driving Dabur’s growth in the modern era, focusing on expanding the company’s global footprint and diversifying its product offerings.
Shiv Kishan Agrawal
Shiv Kishan Agrawal, 83, has a net worth of $1.6 billion. The snacks industry in India owes a great deal to Shiv Kishan Agarwal and Manohar Lal Agarwal, grandsons of Haldiram founder Ganga Bhishen Agarwal. Starting out as a small family-owned sweetshop business, the brothers pioneered the modernization of the industry in the country. Haldiram is not just a household name in India, its wide range of products, comprising more than 400 varieties of namkeen, confectionery and ready-to-eat food now sell across 100 countries.He is a significant player in the snacks market in India. Agrawal’s ventures have introduced a variety of popular snack products that have become favourites among Indian consumers.
