When Milind Vakharia, a tech professional from New Jersey, flies to the US from Mumbai, a portion of his baggage is reserved for homemade Gujarati snacks like thepla and khakhra. While such items are available in the US, Vakharia believes nothing matches the taste and quality of food prepared by Gujarati women back home.
Since 2017, Vakharia has relied on food prepared by Darshana Makwana, who has been running a home kitchen in Andheri East, Mumbai for 27 years. Her vacuum-packed snacks serve not only students and techies but also celebrities and NRIs. These products are significantly cheaper than their FMCG counterparts in the US and are guaranteed to be pure vegetarian—a key concern for many.
Gujarati home-run food ventures have thrived for decades with no major marketing. Brands like Induben Khakhrawala started small and gained popularity through word-of-mouth. With more Indians moving abroad, the demand for such food has grown rapidly. Packed in vacuum-sealed bags, these snacks travel across the globe to nourish Indians in foreign lands.
Entrepreneurs like Sejal Shah from Ahmedabad begin their day at 4 am to prepare organic food for international travelers. These snacks, especially dry ones, are ideal for long journeys and suit the dietary preferences of many Indians living abroad.
Women like Makwana and Shah are quietly helping students and professionals abroad by providing them with affordable, healthy, and comforting homemade food. Their community-based businesses, built purely on trust and quality, continue to be a lifeline for many exploring opportunities outside India, reinforcing the Gujarati spirit of entrepreneurship on a global scale.
