Ruchi Soya Industries

In 1986, Dinesh Shahra founded Ruchi Soya Industries, a company that would grow into a major player in India's edible oil market. For decades, it was a household name, known for brands like Nutrela. The business centered on processing oilseeds, particularly soybean, and became one of the country's largest manufacturers of edible oils. The playbook was straightforward: acquire raw materials, process them efficiently, and distribute them through a vast network. This strategy fueled its expansion for years. The turning point came in the late 2010s when the company faced severe financial distress. Mounting debt led Ruchi Soya into insolvency proceedings. This wasn't the end of the story, but the beginning of a new chapter. In 2019, a new owner emerged: Patanjali Ayurved, a fast-growing consumer goods company co-founded by Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna. Patanjali acquired Ruchi Soya for over 4,000 crore rupees, a strategic move to gain a strong foothold in the edible oil sector. Under Patanjali's ownership, the company was rebranded as Patanjali Foods. This acquisition represented a significant shift, integrating Ruchi Soya's established infrastructure with Patanjali's brand and distribution network. In 2022, the company launched a follow-on public offer (FPO) to raise further capital and reduce promoter shareholding. This event marked a full-circle moment, solidifying its comeback from near-collapse to a revitalized entity in the Indian FMCG landscape.