If you have ever used one of Cremica’s unique products, you must have encountered this legendary Indian brand. Founded by none other than Rajni Bector, who had to cope with a lot of issues as the result of the infamous Partition in 1947, Cremica, now valued at around ₹7,000 crores, stands as a testament to not only its brand but even more importantly, a success story of resilience, resolve, and passion for great food. Starting with a modest kitchen, Bector built Cremica into a renowned brand, revolutionising India’s food sector. Let us read about her life in detail!
Transitions of her Life
Early Life and Partition
Rajni Bector was born into a high-income family in Karachi. Life had been very comfortable until 1947 when events suddenly made her childhood extremely uncomfortable and chaotic. She was just six years old when she saw everything go haywire in her world. They were at Srinagar on 15 August, which meant India was free; it was the day that spelt displacement for them. They reached safety after six long months of travelling, surviving on the good will of relatives in Delhi.
Death was lurking when her elder brother died, and then Rajni was married off to Dharamvir Bector from Ludhiana. At 17 years old, just having passed from Miranda House, Rajni accepted this transformation from a modern home in Delhi into this more traditional Punjabi setup.
Cultural Transitions in Life
This transition to a traditional Punjabi family was not very smooth. However, Dharamvir was supportive and progressive in his outlook, which gave Rajni a lot of freedom to do things she wanted to. They settled in Ludhiana, where Dharamvir had to abandon all hopes of studying at Oxford for the sake of the new family.
In the 1960s and 70s, Ludhiana was a thriving city of locals and refugees. Amidst all this industrialisation, it was here that Rajni learned to cook. With children growing older, she used to cook and bake a lot and found her talent in cooking and baking.
Culinary Talents and Early Ventures
It was in the 1970s that her cooking skills became a full-time business, which started initially as a hobby. The puddings, salads, and ice creams were popular among friends and family. Her most memorable experience was when a local MLA requested her to make cakes and salads for 3000 people for his daughter’s wedding. She managed the challenge with just one helper, and the event’s success solidified her reputation in the community.
She then sold ice cream stalls at all local fairs, outselling Kwality Walls in most of them. More popularity translated into more demand. So, Dharamvir recommended formalising the business. They registered the company in 1977-78 as “Cremica“, inspired by the word “ice cream“.
The early years of Cremica were characterised by the struggles that came along with them. However, the brand’s passion behind it still had pretty thin profit margins. Still, Rajni’s passion for food and her quest for quality motivated her to innovate and create. She invested in developing mass production techniques and mechanised processes, procuring the best raw materials, and following international standards for quality.
The word-of-mouth publicity thus became the need of the hour for the brand. When the product’s reputation, Cremica, grew, it reached very high levels of society and reached the corners of Delhi. As long as the taste was her hallmark and the presentation, her place in the market of culinary art was unique.
A major turning point for Cremica came in 1995 when McDonald’s entered the Indian market. The global fast-food chain was scouting for some authentic suppliers of quality ingredients. After a few inquiries, they found Cremica. Impressed with the quality of her products, McDonald’s initiated tests. Soon after, Cremica became the official supplier of buns to its Indian outlets.
The relationship opened new horizons for Cremica: now, it could achieve visibility in every nook and corner of the country. Soon enough, by the end of the 1990s, Cremica also began supplying ketchup to McDonald’s, further enhancing its food industry credentials. Its brand facilities in Punjab and Delhi enabled it to make a huge leap in its operations to cater to the ever-growing clients.
With the expansion came more McDonald’s outlets, as did Cremica. By 1998, they also supplied ketchup to McDonald’s. The status it has received made this company noticed by some other international majors like KFC and Burger King, in addition to McDonald’s, for providing biscuits and cookies in 60 overseas countries. Cracker and English Oven are also her brands. Moreover, they also make Oreo on contract.
The IPO and Reputation
The company’s major successes culminated in 2020 when Bector’s Food Specialities floated an IPO that became one of the top 10 records for a subscription that year, valued at ₹6,000 crores. The company’s rapid growth and success did not go unnoticed. In 2021, Rajni Bector was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours, recognising her contributions to the culinary arts and the food industry. During the awards ceremony, the President of India said she had the honour of eliciting her achievements. In contrast, Prime Minister Modi said, “Not just Punjab, you are the pride of the whole of India.”
Time’s Icon
Rajni Bector is a legend of persistence and dedication at present. She is charismatic, charming, and energetic, donning her pearl necklace on all occasions. She personifies entrepreneurship and inspires scores of aspiring entrepreneurs.
The emphasis on quality has been a hallmark of her success. She insists on testing raw materials to the fullest so that every batch meets her high standards. Such immense commitment to quality was the guiding principle for her business and serves as a lesson for many entrepreneurs who are setting out to build their brands.
The story of Cremica and Rajni Bector goes way beyond the tale of successful business building; it talks about resilience, innovation, and the power of dreams. Rajni’s story shows that, with hard work, dedication, and commitment to quality, one can overcome all kinds of obstacles and reach great success. She inspired generations with her legacy and proved that even when everything is against one, it is possible to succeed if one does not give up the pursuit of excellence.
