The Indian snack industry has lost one of its pioneers. Shiv Ratan Agarwal, the driving force behind Bikaji Foods International as its chairman and MD, succumbed to a heart attack in Chennai on Thursday morning. At 74, his untimely death has sent shockwaves through business circles and beyond.
Accompanying his wife for post-surgery care—after her heart bypass—Agarwal and family were based in a Chennai hotel. The morning brought devastation when, at approximately 7:30 AM, he collapsed. Emergency services rushed him to a nearby private hospital, but efforts to revive him failed.
Tributes flooded in immediately. Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma shared his sorrow, describing the news as ‘heart-wrenching’ and invoking divine solace for Agarwal’s soul and family.
Echoing the sentiment, ex-CM Ashok Gehlot posted on X: ‘The abrupt passing of renowned industrialist Shiv Ratan Agarwal, who globalized Bikaner’s bhujia, is profoundly sad. An irreplaceable void.’
From modest beginnings with Shivdeep Foods—honoring son Deepak—Agarwal split from Haldiram kin to focus on Bikaner’s iconic bhujia. The 1993 rebrand to Bikaji, drawing from Rao Bika’s legacy, propelled the company to national and international stardom, making crunchy namkeens a household name everywhere.
Agarwal’s story is one of grit and innovation, elevating street-side snacks to packaged perfection. As condolences grow, Bikaji’s future looks to honor his foundational work amid collective mourning.
