These six legacy food brands are more than nostalgia—they’re multicrore giants powered by grit, innovation, and social impact. Each began small but now defines its category.

• Lijjat Papad (est. 1959): What started with seven women and ₹80 on a terrace in South Mumbai is now India’s oldest all‑women cooperative, employing ~45,000 “ben sisters” and generating over ₹1,600 crore in annual turnover .

• Balaji Wafers (est. 1974): Founded by Chandubhai Virani and brothers in Rajkot, who first sold chips to local cinema-goers, it has grown into a ₹2,000–4,000 crore snack empire nationwide .

• Parle‑G (est. 1939): Born in Vile Parle, repackaged in 1982, it became India’s first ₹5,000 crore FMCG brand and remains the world’s best-selling biscuit .

• Nilon Pickles (est. 1966): Brothers in Jalgaon pivoted to pickles during WWII, turning farm produce into a pickle brand beloved across Maharashtra .

• Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale (est. 1950): Starting with sweets and savory snacks in Pune, Chitale today works with ~40,000 farmers and churns out over 1,000 kg of bakarwadi per hour—bringing in approx. ₹200 crore annually .

• Vadilal (est. 1907): A Gujarat soda shop turned ice‑cream pioneer, now a ₹1,071 crore+ brand with multiple outlets and a pan‑India reach .

These stories highlight more than business success—they showcase community empowerment, value-driven leadership, and the power of staying rooted. From women-led cooperatives to farmer partnerships and family-run empires, these brands remind us: longevity isn’t just financial—it’s cultural.