Dela Grain Foods Pvt Ltd, a Madhya Pradesh-based enterprise, is redefining the food processing landscape by integrating sustainability, direct farmer partnerships, and scalable manufacturing into its core business model. The company’s pioneering efforts recently earned it the title of Fastest-Growing MSME (Micro) at the ET MSME Awards 2024.
Founded in 2014 by Eva Chawla in Ratlam, Dela Foods operates at the confluence of agriculture, processing, and the hotel, restaurant, and catering (HoReCa) sector. By sourcing fresh produce directly from farmers, the company eliminates intermediaries, guarantees fair pricing, and minimizes post-harvest losses—an urgent need in light of the 78.2 million tonnes of annual food waste, as reported by the United Nations Environment Programme’s Food Waste Index 2024.
Dela’s direct procurement model has not only improved farm incomes but also created a blueprint for other micro and small enterprises to pursue inclusive growth while tackling one of the food industry’s most critical challenges—waste. By investing in infrastructure to process surplus or imperfect produce, Dela has turned potential waste into a revenue opportunity, making the business both sustainable and profitable.
The company’s 5,000-square-metre food processing unit manufactures a diverse range of products including ketchups, noodles, pickles, and culinary sauces under its brands Dela, Dela Professional, Tom-chi, and Gagimal Gordhandas. This dual focus on retail and institutional clients enables Dela to serve both everyday consumers and professional kitchens, while positioning its portfolio in value-added categories that offer higher margins and increased employment per unit of raw material processed.
In addition to the company’s growth, Eva Chawla, founder and Managing Director, has garnered recognition for her leadership and vision. She received the MAWE Shines Award 2024 and was a nominee for MSME Women Entrepreneur (Micro) at the ET MSME Awards.
“Dela Foods proves that with the right vision, even micro-enterprises can operate at efficiencies comparable to large corporations,” said Chawla. “We’re building more than a business—we’re building a sustainable food ecosystem.”
By transforming food waste into value and empowering farmers through assured demand, Dela Foods is not just growing—it’s leading a quiet revolution in how small businesses can drive large-scale impact.