Parle-G, synonymous with biscuits worldwide, stands as one of the largest biscuit brands globally. The company’s remarkable journey began nearly 100 years ago during the British colonial era in India.
The story of Parle-G traces back to the early 1900s when a 12-year-old boy named Mohanlal Chauhan moved to Mumbai from a small town near Valsad in South Gujarat. Eager to learn a trade, Mohanlal mastered sewing and, by the age of 18, established a store in Gamdevi, Mumbai. This venture provided him with financial stability, leading him to start two independent businesses, D Mohanlal and Co. and Chhiba Durlabh.
As World War I unfolded, Mohanlal and his five sons decided to shut down their tailor shop and establish a confectionery company. Thus, the Parle Group was founded. Mohanlal introduced German technology to India by importing machinery worth Rs 60,000 from his savings. Following India’s Independence, Parle-G thrived as an affordable, Indian-made alternative to British snacks.
Parle Products expanded its portfolio by launching popular soft drinks like Thums Up, Gold Spot, Limca, and Frooti, which became household names in India. In 2012, Parle-G became the first FMCG company in India to surpass Rs 5000 crore in retail sales in a single year. The brand was also named the best-selling biscuit in the world by a Nielsen report in 2011.
Today, Vijay Chauhan heads the company, which boasts a revenue of over USD 2 billion, with current revenue valued at over Rs 17000 crore. The net worth of Vijay Chauhan and his family stands at a staggering USD 5.5 billion, approximately Rs 45,238 crore.
