Bikaji Foods Founder Shiv Ratan Agarwal Passes Away at 74

Chennai, April 23 (TNA) Bikaji Foods International founder and chairman Shiv Ratan Agarwal has passed away at the age of 74, the company disclosed in a regulatory filing on April 23, 2026. Agarwal, a key architect of Bikaji’s rise from a regional Bikaneri snack maker to one of India’s largest ethnic-snack brands, died after reportedly complaining of uneasiness and being rushed to a hospital in Chennai.

Under his leadership, Bikaji grew into India’s third‑largest ethnic snacks company, with a strong presence across domestic and international markets. Agarwal, who began with Shivdeep Products and launched the Bikaji brand in 1993, was widely credited with transforming a cottage‑style unit into a globally recognised FMCG enterprise in traditional sweets and namkeen.

The company described his death as an “irreparable loss” and said leadership and employees remain committed to operating in line with his vision. His son, Deepak Agarwal, continues as Managing Director, steering Bikaji’s ongoing digital and geographic expansion as the organisation navigates the leadership transition.