Learned to make Bhujia from grandfather, left school and jumped into business and built a company worth ₹ 21 thousand crores in 40 years

New Delhi. Bikaji Foods International has acquired a 55 per cent equity stake in Ujjain-based Ariba Foods. This acquisition will help Bikaji to increase its frozen food production capabilities and expand its presence in the market. Bikaji’s market capitalization is currently Rs 21,380.13 crore. The Bikaji brand was started by Shivratan Agarwal in the year 1980. Initially, he used to make only Bhujia, which was his family’s ancestral work. The Bhujia business was started by Shivratan’s grandfather Gangabhishan Haldiram Agarwal in Bikaner, Rajasthan in the year 1940. After Shivratan’s grandfather, his father Moolchand Agarwal took over the business. He used to sell his products under the brand name Haldiram Bhujiawala.

Moolchand Agarwal had four sons, Shivkishan Agarwal, Manohar Lal Agarwal, Madhu Agarwal and Shivratan Agarwal. Shivkishan, Manoharlal and Madhu together started a new brand of Bhujia and named it after their grandfather – ‘Haldiram’. But Shivratan Agarwal, instead of doing business with the three brothers, started a new brand in 1980 and named it Bikaji.

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Shivratan has studied only till eighth standard
Shivratan Agarwal had learnt the art of making Bhujia from his grandfather. He was more interested in business than studies. This was the reason that after passing the eighth grade, he left school and jumped into his family business. He helped his father for a few years. After separating from his brothers, he progressed a lot with his hard work and intelligence.

The first person to make Bhujia using a machine
Shivratan Agarwal was the first person to make Bhujia using a machine in India. Earlier, Bhujia was made by hand in India. He set up a factory in Bikaner to make Bhujia and started making Bhujia using machines. Bikaji, human hands are not used anywhere in making Bhujia.

Made it the third largest snacks manufacturing company
In 40 years, he made Bikaji India’s third largest traditional snack manufacturer. Shivratan Agarwal’s net worth today is $1.9 billion. Today, Bikaji manufactures more than 250 products. The products manufactured by them include western snacks and frozen items and today Bikaji’s products are available in more than 8 lakh shops across the country. Bikaji was awarded the National Award for Industrial Excellence in 1992.

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