Mumbai, April 24: Shivratan Agrawal, the Chairman and Managing Director of Bikaji, passed away on April 23 at the age of 74. He was a pioneer in the Indian snack industry, having founded the Bikaji brand in Bikaner in 1987.
Agrawal started Bikaji from humble beginnings and transformed it into a major food brand. Despite only having completed his education up to the eighth grade, his creative vision led to significant innovations in the production of bhujia, a popular Indian snack. He was the first to set up a machine-based production process for bhujia, enhancing both productivity and quality.
Under his leadership, Bikaji became the first brand in India to produce bhujia using machines, which greatly improved its operational efficiency. The company went public in 2022 and is now listed on the Indian stock exchange, marking its status as an international brand with over 250 products available in 32 countries, including the USA, UAE, Australia, and several European nations.
Shivratan Agrawal’s legacy continues through his son, Deepak Agrawal, who currently serves as the Managing Director of the company. Agrawal’s entrepreneurial journey began after the division of his family business, Haldiram, and he has since made a significant impact on the Indian snack market.