Meet man who built Rs 5539 crore business with just Rs 2.5 lakh, he owns one of India’s largest…

India is home to numerous inspiring stories of individuals who started with nothing and went on to build multi-crore businesses. One such story is that of Bipin Hadvani, the Chairman and Managing Director of Gopal Snacks Limited. Despite his humble beginnings, Bipin managed to make a name for himself in the business world and achieve extraordinary success.

As a child, Hadvani developed an interest in the Namkeen business that his father operated from their small village shop. His father made tasty Gujarati snacks, which he would sell on his bicycle in nearby villages. After school, Hadvani would assist his father in selling the snacks.

After gaining experience working with his father, he decided to start his own entrepreneurial journey in 1990. He co-founded a snack business with a small amount of Rs 4,500, which he borrowed from his father. Following an interesting four-year partnership, he separated from his business partner. With Rs 2.5 lakh, his share from the previous venture, he set out on his own entrepreneurial path.

In 1994, Hadvani took a bold step and purchased his own house. With the unwavering support of his wife, he launched his own business, Gopal Snacks. Their home became the production center, where they crafted traditional snack items. Hadvani would cycle through the streets of Rajkot, engaging with traders, shopkeepers, and business owners to better understand the local market.

His dedication began to pay off as sales of their products started to increase. This steady rise in demand led him to purchase a plot outside the city to build a factory. However, the factory had to be shut down later due to its remote location. Undeterred, Hadvani secured loans and set up a small unit within the city, which eventually proved to be highly successful.

Today, Gopal Snacks is ranked as India’s fourth-largest traditional snack brand (such as gathiya) by market share, and it holds the title of the largest producer of gathiya and snack pellets in the country by volume in FY 2023. The company has achieved an impressive market capitalization of Rs 55.39 billion (Rs 5539 crore).