The Grandmother Who Turned Pickles and Snacks into a Rs 1 Crore Venture

A wedding order with a Rs 1 lakh advance in 2019 turned into a big turning point for 74-year-old Girija V, fondly called "Girija Paati." (Paati is the Tamil word for grandmother.)

What began as a one-time order has now grown into Girija Paati’s Home Foods in Chennai, a business known for its traditional sweets and snacks such as murukku, mixture, podis (spice powders), and pickles, with a turnover of Rs 1 crore.

Girija Paati’s snacks bring tradition to every home (Photos: Special Arrangement)

Girija Paati started her business with the support of her family from her home kitchen. She took her business online during the pandemic and scaled up quickly. When the orders grew, she rented a 1,000 sft space nearby to prepare, pack and sell the products.

For Girija Paati, the transition into e-commerce and growing her business felt like a natural evolution. “I grew up in and married into a joint family, so taking care of, nurturing, and feeding at least two dozen people was a daily affair for the last 50 years,” says the 74-year-old Girija Paati.


Started as a sole proprietorship company in 2019, Girija Paati’s Home Foods, became a private limited company in May 2021.

“We have about 40-50 standard products throughout the year, along with special items curated for various festivals. Additionally, we undertake custom orders for weddings and functions,” says Girija Paati.

The products are priced reasonably, with a 200-400 gm packet typically costing Rs. 350, making them accessible to a wide range of customers.

“Our signature items are, Milagai curry (tamarind green chilli pickle), Spicy Thattai (special recipe), Butter Maaladdu (my trademark sweet), Classic mixture (it is completely different and has lots of asafoetida and spice), Badusha (a flavourful sweet with just the right amount of sweet and a touch of rose and saffron), Garlic Karuvaipillai Podi (a unique rice mix with garlic, curry leaves and tamarind), Mangai Thokku (spicy-sour pickle), and Idli Milagai Podi (made with black sesame, which is healthy and tasty),” says Girija Paati.

“I decided to launch this food business because I was convinced I would succeed after seeing the high demand for pickles, podis, sweets, and karams. Additionally, I realised that I could fulfill my dream of making a difference to the lives of less fortunate women, who have talent and enthusiasm to work but lack adequate opportunities.”

Girija Paati employs 20 women to make her dream a reality

Girija Paati has provided employment to less fortunate women, whose husbands lost their jobs during the pandemic. She has employed 20 such women, aged between 30 and 60, to help her in preparing the food items. Bhuvana is one such lady who has been with Girija for 25 years, helping her in the kitchen, even before she even dreamt of starting a business.

“The response to my products is amazing! I feel very happy when people say it reminds them of their visits to their grandmother’s house,” says Girija Paati, fondly sharing her experiences.

“Some people have sent me emotional voice messages that my sweets reminded them of their childhood. I consider our customers as family and their positive feedback and constructive criticism are equally importantly. This helps us grow better and better.”

Girija Paati’s products have gained popularity across India. “We ship to all parts of the country, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Gujarat to Meghalaya. The shelf-life of our products ranges from items meant for immediate consumption to those that can be enjoyed up to six months.

“The most important ingredient in my food is love. I always make sure that my team is well-fed and happy because positivity makes a difference to food.”

Growing up in a joint family comprising 30 members in Villivakkam, a neighbourhood in Chennai, Girija Paati was adept at managing home affairs, although she never directly took charge of the cooking.

“I come from a very big family and my mother and aunts cooked vast quantities of food daily. As the oldest of six children, my responsibility was to take care of my siblings and cousin brothers and sisters,” she fondly recalls her early childhood years.

“When I got married at 18, I did not know any cooking as I was only considered a helper in the kitchen at my maternal home, doing such things as cutting and washing vegetables.

“My mother-in-law once asked me to fry appalam and I ended up spilling hot oil on my hands. This was the turning point in my life. I was determined to learn all aspects of cooking. I began experimenting using recipes I gathered from my mother and mother-in-law and even their mothers.”

74-year-old Girija Paati proves it's never too late to succeed

She observes that home-made food is the safest and best for health. “However, owing to time constraints, the current generation has begun ordering food, although they prefer home-made food,” she says.

“My own children and grandchildren are so tied up with their careers and leading a fast-paced life, they often lack access to good quality food that is safe and healthy. I decided to bring food that I make for my children and grandchildren to all such households that are craving for safe and healthy food that is also hygienic.”

In addition to cooking and feeding people and experimenting with new recipes, Girija Paati loves gardening and grows many varieties of fruits and vegetables, including jackfruit, that she often uses in some of her recipes.

“I also make time to meet my friends every evening. I have known some of them for more than 20 years, and they have remained with me through thick and thin. Another regular ritual is the weekly meetings over lunch of her entire extended family at her maternal home,” shares Girija Paati.

In addition to making and selling various food items, Girija Paati also posts lots of recipes with step-by-step instructions on her blog, videos on Instagram and shorts on YouTube.

She also has created an entire set of menus by festival (like Sree Krishna Jayanthi, Ganesh Chathurthi, and Onam) for people to re-create at home.

Murukku, podis, pickles, and a whole lot of love: Girija Paati’s snacks are winning hearts across India

“My main aim is to preserve the recipes and the healthy lifestyle of the past to the extent possible for the coming generations,” she says. She also takes custom-made orders for wedding and functions - Seer Bakshanam

“Going forward, I want to help as many under-privileged women as possible and give them the confidence to become financially independent,” signs off Girija Paati. - ©TWL