What began as a simple solution to unsafe idli-dosa batter in Bengaluru eventually became one of India’s most recognisable fresh foods brands. In 2005, PC Musthafa, who failed class 6 and withdrew from school to help support his family, teamed up with four of his cousins to launch iD Fresh Food, investing just ₹50,000 from their savings and starting production from a small kitchen in Tippasandra.

Musthafa’s early setbacks didn’t define him — after returning to education, completing engineering from NIT Calicut and working abroad, he brought discipline, planning and technical insight back to India. Observing poor quality batter sold locally, the team focused on clean, chemical-free and reliably fermented batter, improving traditional methods and building trust with retailers and consumers.

Two decades on, iD Fresh Food reported ₹681.4 crore in operating revenue in FY25 and around ₹50 crore in total profit, driven by strong demand for fresh batter, parotas and related ready-to-cook products across 44 cities and over 100 stores. The company remains privately held, with a strong balance sheet and expansion underway via new plants in Haryana and the UAE, nearly ₹100 crore in cash reserves, and a growing app-based sales channel.

iD Fresh’s journey from a tiny kitchen to a food industry leader underscores the value of quality execution, patient growth and staying true to core product excellence even amid market competition.