One of India’s biggest FMCG success stories began inside a small tailoring shop in Mumbai’s Vile Parle area. Mohanlal Dayal Chauhan, who initially worked as a tailor, struggled to grow his garment business before deciding to enter the food trade. He started a modest bakery selling bread, snacks, and traditional nankhatais to local customers.
What began as a survival effort eventually evolved into Parle Products, one of India’s most recognized consumer brands. In 1929, the Chauhan family formally established the business and imported biscuit-making machinery from Germany, a major investment at the time. Along with his sons, Mohanlal built a factory in Vile Parle, from which the company derived its name.
Parle’s growth accelerated during World War II after it secured contracts to supply biscuits to the British Army. Following Independence, the company positioned itself as a strong Indian alternative to imported food brands, benefiting from the growing Swadeshi movement across the country.
The company’s biggest breakthrough came with Parle-G, which became one of the world’s highest-selling biscuit brands by volume. Melody toffee later became another household favorite, famous for its iconic slogan “Melody itni chocolaty kyun hai?” and its popularity across generations of Indians.
The brand recently returned to global headlines after Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted Melody toffees to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during his Italy visit, sparking viral “Melodi” memes and massive online attention. The moment once again highlighted the cultural reach of the Parle brand nearly a century after its founding.
