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A man from Tamil Nadu quit a comfortable job in the US to sell superfoods in India and now earns ₹7 crore annually.

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Founded in 2019 by Kiru Maikkapillai, The Divine Foods is a rapidly growing Indian D2C food tech brand with over 25,000 customers and a presence in five countries. Hailing from Athur, a tier-3 city in Tamil Nadu, Kiru pursued his education in Chennai before traveling to the United States for an MBA. While working as a business analyst in the US, he was inspired by the global reach of authentic products like New Zealand's Manuka honey and Japanese sauces. This realization led him to recognize that India's rich culinary traditions were underrepresented in international markets, sparking the idea for The Divine Foods.Kiru shared in an interview with Startup Pedia, “Even though I had a settled life in the US, I chose to leave it behind and return to India with the entrepreneurial drive to positively impact people’s health and support rural employment.” Upon returning to Tamil Nadu, he explored the state to find unique local food products that could embody the essence of Indian heritage. His discovery of the curcumin-rich turmeric from Salem, known for its powerful anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, became the foundation of The Divine Foods. The brand launched in late 2019 with turmeric lattes and capsules.Today, The Divine Foods offers a wide variety of health-focused products, including Paruthi Paal, Natural ABC Latte Milk Mix, Pure Gulkand Honey, Navalac, Raw Banana Powder Netram, Millet Meal Replacement Shake, Organic Coconut Sugar, Nut Mix Honey, and 35 other items across categories like kid’s care, women’s care, immunity boosters, skincare, and diabetic care. These products are available as powdered superfoods, native milk mixes, honey, and spreads.The brand is committed to supporting local farmers and producing high-quality healthy foods by establishing strong partnerships with Farmer Producer Organizations (FBOs). For instance, The Divine Foods not only sources turmeric but also invests in rural infrastructure, helping farmers improve their production facilities. This approach ensures higher quality products and fosters rural development.Kiru mentioned in his interview with Startup Pedia, “We have established 13 FBOs so far, ranging from 5 to 50 farmers depending on the operation's scale.” These FBOs provide either raw materials or finished goods, which The Divine Foods then brands and distributes, ensuring a consistent supply of premium-quality products from farm to consumer.


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