Winning Bizness Desk
Mumbai.The sudden death of Bikaji Foods Chairman and Managing Director Shiv Ratan Agarwal in Chennai has sent shockwaves across the business community. The 74-year-old industrialist, who built one of India’s most recognised snack brands, passed away on Thursday morning after a brief illness. He had travelled to Chennai with his family for his wife’s medical treatment and was staying there when the incident took place.
Health worsens suddenly during early morning hours
Agarwal reportedly felt uneasy around 7:30 am on Thursday. As his condition deteriorated, he was rushed to a private hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Family sources said he suffered a heart attack. His wife had recently undergone heart bypass surgery, and the family had been staying in Chennai for her recovery.
He had reached Chennai nearly 10 days ago with his family and was staying at a hotel on doctors’ advice to ensure rest and post-surgery care for his wife. The sudden nature of his death has left relatives and business associates in deep grief.
Final journey preparations and market shutdown announced
The mortal remains are being flown to Bikaner by a chartered aircraft on Thursday night. The last rites will be performed on Friday. The funeral procession will pass through key parts of the city before reaching the community cremation ground near Satimata Temple. His only son, Deepak Agarwal, will perform the last rites.
Local trade bodies have also announced a temporary market shutdown as a mark of respect. Relatives from Delhi and other parts of the country are expected to reach Bikaner to attend the funeral.
Factory operations halted as mark of respect
Following his death, production and supply at Bikaji’s factories in Bikaner’s industrial areas have been stopped. The company’s units, which produce hundreds of tonnes of snacks daily, remained shut as employees mourned the loss of their founder.
Key production details include:
- Around 800 tonnes daily manufacturing capacity
- Over 150 tonnes of bhujia produced every day
- Other items include sweets, chips, papad and bakery products
- Supply to outlets temporarily halted across regions
The company has grown into a major player in India’s packaged snack market, with a strong domestic and global presence.
From small bhujia unit to global brand recognition
Shiv Ratan Agarwal founded the Bikaji brand in 1993 in Bikaner after separating from his family’s traditional business. What started as a small venture gradually turned into a leading food brand known for bhujia and namkeen products across India and abroad.
His early company operated under the name Shivdeep Food Products, named after his son. With a clear vision to create a unique identity, he later introduced the brand name ‘Bikaji’, inspired by Bikaner’s founder Rao Bika. The move helped give the brand a strong cultural and regional recall.
Visionary entrepreneur who modernised traditional snack industry
Despite being educated only up to Class 8, Agarwal played a key role in modernising the traditional snack business. At a time when bhujia was largely handmade, he introduced machines for large-scale production, improving both quality and consistency.
His business approach focused on:
- Moving from loose to packaged products
- Investing in machinery and automation
- Expanding distribution beyond local markets
- Taking Indian flavours to global shelves
Under his leadership, Bikaji was listed on the stock market in 2022, marking a major milestone in its growth journey. His death is being seen as the end of an era for the company and the wider snacks industry.
