Early Life
Manohar Lal Agarwal is the grandson of Ganga Bishan Agarwal, who started selling snacks from a small shop in Bikaner, Rajasthan, in 1937. He, along with his brothers, expanded the business, which eventually led to the creation of the Haldiram's brand.
Rise to Success
Manohar Lal Agarwal, along with his brothers, expanded the family business across different regions. In 2023, he merged Delhi-based Haldiram Foods with Nagpur-based Haldiram Foods International to form Haldiram Snacks Food. This strategic move consolidated the business operations and strengthened the brand's market position. In 2025, a consortium of investors led by Singapore's Temasek acquired a 20% stake in the merged company, valuing it at an estimated $10 billion.
Key Business Strategies
Agarwal's success is attributed to several key business strategies. The company focused on quality, packaging, and distribution to make its products accessible across India and internationally. Haldiram's was also the first Indian company to emphasize ready-made snacks' packaging and presentation. His foresight and innovative ideas have transformed Haldiram from a small shop into a major food empire.
Philanthropy
Manohar Lal Agarwal and Haldiram Snacks have backed Venture Catalysts, an incubator, to invest in startups in packaged foods.
