From Family Business to Personal Calling

My journey in the food industry truly began when I joined my uncle’s food export business in Coimbatore. At first, it was an opportunity to learn. I worked as an intern in the quality department, inspecting traditional Indian food items like jaggery, pulses, masala powders, and rice. But as I became more deeply involved in the process, I realized that I wasn’t just interested in the technical side of food—I was passionate about the entire ecosystem around it.

Over time, I took on more responsibility, moving into full-time management roles. I started looking at how we could improve product quality, packaging, and compliance with safety standards like FSSAI. I worked closely with our production teams and dealers, learning how different parts of the food supply chain operated. I travelled to warehouses, managed stock levels, checked quality during packaging, and ensured that what we delivered truly met the standards our customers expected.

But what made me stay in this field was something deeper. I began to see that behind every ingredient—every bag of rice, every piece of jaggery—there was a story. A farmer’s story. A community’s story. I understood that the problems faced by producers in India, especially those trying to grow organically or sustainably, were not being taken seriously by most companies. Instead of supporting these farmers or solving their problems, many businesses would just move on to the next supplier.

That didn’t sit right with me. I believe that if we’re part of an industry, we have a responsibility to support everyone involved in it—from the field to the shelf. That belief became the foundation of my vision.

A New Vision for the Indian Food Industry

My long-term vision is to build a food industry that is not just about products, but about people. I want to create a future where Indian food, rooted in tradition and nutrition, is respected globally for its quality, its values, and its sustainability. To do that, I want to focus on some key areas:

First, I want to work more closely with farmers and agriculture experts to support the organic movement in India. I believe that organic farming is not just a trend—it’s a necessary shift for our health, our environment, and our economy. But farmers can’t do it alone. They need proper training, better access to markets, and fair prices for their work. I want to be someone who helps build that bridge.

Second, I want to develop Indian food products that are both natural and globally appealing. For example, I want to see products like palm jaggery, organic muesli, cold-pressed oils, and traditional snacks on supermarket shelves—not just in India, but in the UK, the US, Europe, and beyond. These foods carry not only health benefits but also cultural heritage. I want to create packaging and branding that respects that story and makes consumers proud of what they’re eating.

Third, I want to eventually open a chain of retail grocery stores in India that focus only on clean, organic, and farmer-supported food. These stores should be more than just shops—they should educate customers, promote local agriculture, and show that sustainable eating can be both affordable and delicious.

Finally, I believe in the power of learning and networking. That’s why I chose to come to the UK and study management at Oxford Brookes. I want to learn from international practices, meet people from different sectors, and apply that knowledge to make real change in India. I’m not here just to get a degree—I’m here to strengthen the foundation of a dream I’ve had for years.

A Future Industry Built on Ethics and Innovation

I’ve worked in the food industry for over six years, and I’ve seen the challenges up close. But I’ve also seen the opportunities. I’ve met farmers with incredible knowledge, women entrepreneurs trying to build food brands from scratch, and small producers struggling to compete with large corporations. I want to be part of a system that doesn’t leave them behind.

My dream is to be a part of global food companies like Nestlé, Unilever, Mondelez, Hello Fresh and other well-known brands. I want to work in their innovation or sustainability teams, learn how large systems function, and use that experience to help shape my own vision in India. I want to combine the scale and professionalism of international companies with the heart and soul of traditional Indian food systems.

I don’t just want to be successful—I want to be useful. I want to build something that uplifts others, supports our farmers, and makes people all over the world fall in love with Indian food the way I did growing up.