Chennai: Shiv Ratan Agarwal, the Chairman and Managing Director of Bikaji Foods International, passed away on Thursday morning in Chennai after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 74 years old. Agarwal had traveled to the city along with his family for his wife’s medical treatment.
According to sources close to the family, Agarwal’s wife had recently undergone a heart bypass surgery and was advised complete rest. The family had been staying at a hotel in Chennai during her recovery period. Around 7:30 AM on Thursday, Agarwal reportedly complained of feeling unwell. As his health worsened, he was immediately taken to a private hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead upon arrival.
The journey of Bikaji
Agarwal was the visionary behind the Bikaji brand, which he established in Bikaner, Rajasthan. What began as a small-scale venture eventually grew into one of the country’s most recognized packaged snack companies. The business initially operated under the name ‘Shivdeep Foods Products’, named after his son Deepak Agarwal. Following a split in the family business linked to the Haldiram’s brand, Agarwal decided to carve his own path.
He relocated to Bikaner and launched a bhujia manufacturing unit under Shivdeep Foods Products, setting the stage for a enterprise that would later become a dominant force in India’s snack food industry. In 1993, the company was rebranded as ‘Bikaji’—a name inspired by Rao Bika, the founder of Bikaner—giving the brand a strong regional identity that resonated with consumers across the country and beyond.
Condolences pour In
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was among the first to express his condolences following Agarwal’s sudden demise. Several industry leaders and political figures have also paid tribute to the industrialist, acknowledging his contributions to India’s food processing sector.