Famous and big Indian brands also once had humble beginnings, and so did their founders. Today we will talk about one such inspiring rags-to-riches story of Vadilal Ice Cream’s founder Vadilal Gandhi.
Belonging to a middle-class family, Gandhi sold soda in pre-Independent India back in 1907 from a small fountain soda shop in Ahmedabad.
Gradually, the popularity of shop soared in Gujarat, and he soon combined soda with ice cream, selling ice cream soda pops across the state. Vadilal eventually established its first ice cream outlet in the country in 1926.
The business was taken over by Vadilal Gandhi’s son Ranchod Lal Gandhi, who imported an ice cream machine from Germany before Independence to diversify the family business. Later managed by Ranchod Lal’s sons Ramchandra and Laxman Gandhi, there were 10 total Vadilal outlets in Ahmedabad in the 1970s.
Besides being one of largest ice cream brand in India, Vadilal has also ventured into selling processed food, selling pre-cooked curries, bread, and other vegetarian items.
Currently, Kalpit Gandhi is the fifth generation entrepreneur from the Vadilal family and is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the ice cream and processed food company. Now, Vadilal has also become the largest-selling Indian ice cream brand in the United States.
Thus, from its humble beginnings as a street soda shop in 1907, this iconic ice cream brand has become a household name in India.
Currently, the market cap of Vadilal Industries is Rs 30000000000 .
