From IT Engineers to Sweet Success: How a Simple Laddu Idea Turned Into a Rs 55 Lakh Business
From IT Engineers to Sweet Success: How a Simple Laddu Idea Turned Into a Rs 55 Lakh Business
After spending five years working in the US as software engineers, Saandeep Jogiparti and Kavitha Gopu felt a strong pull to return to their roots in India. In 2018, they came back to Hyderabad with the dream of starting something of their own. Although they continued their tech jobs for a few more months, the idea of becoming entrepreneurs kept growing in their minds.
Saandeep always had a sweet tooth and enjoyed eating something sweet after every meal. But his family would often warn him about consuming too much refined sugar and encouraged him to eat jaggery instead. This simple piece of advice sparked a business idea—why not create healthy Indian sweets that didn’t use refined sugar?
The Birth of Laddu Box
In 2019, Saandeep and Kavitha decided to turn this idea into reality. They launched Laddu Box, a startup that focused on traditional Indian sweets, specifically laddus, made using native grains, jaggery, ghee, and other healthy ingredients. Instead of just following trends, they turned to old family recipes passed down from their grandparents. They experimented in their kitchen until they got each recipe just right.
They ended up creating 11 types of laddus made from millets like ragi, kodo millet, foxtail millet, and finger millets. Each had unique health benefits. Some helped control cholesterol; others supported better digestion or blood sugar levels. Since they were made with pure ghee, each laddu had a shelf life of 21 days.
A Strong Start, Then a Pandemic Pause
By the end of 2019, the couple had quit their jobs and were fully focused on growing Laddu Box. They sold their laddus at fairs, IT offices, and events. Their healthy treats were a hit, and people even started placing bulk orders. But in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought things to a halt.
Instead of giving up, they pivoted to online sales. They launched a website, promoted their products on social media, and started receiving orders from across India—and even from the UK and USA. The online model turned out to be even more successful than offline sales.
Healthy Sweets, Real Impact
To date, Laddu Box has received over 6,000 orders and clocked Rs 55 lakh in turnover. Their customers include health-conscious professionals, parents, and fitness lovers. They even launched a smaller-sized laddu, just 28 grams, for easier snacking. These are perfect for quick energy boosts and fit easily into a lunchbox or handbag.
Their product range has also expanded to include protein-rich laddus for fitness enthusiasts, iron-rich ones for women, and vegan options made with dates instead of jaggery and ghee. Each one is crafted to serve a specific need while staying true to traditional flavors.
Saandeep and Kavitha’s journey proves that success doesn’t always follow the straight path. Sometimes, it comes from going back to your roots and believing in a simple idea. What started with a sweet craving turned into a thriving business. Their story is a reminder that with the right mix of tradition, passion, and purpose, anything is possible.
