Parle-G: Proudly Made in India, Trusted Worldwide

Brand Overview

• Brand Name: Parle‑G (originally Parle Gluco)

• Parent Company: Parle Products Pvt. Ltd.

• Founder(s): Mohanlal Dayal Chauhan and family

• Year Established: 1929 (House of Parle); Parle-Gluco biscuits launched in 1939

• Headquarters: Vile Parle (East), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

• Industry: FMCG – Biscuits & Confectionery

• Tagline / Product Identity:

  • Flagship Product: Parle‑G biscuits (India’s iconic glucose biscuit)

  • “G” initially stood for Glucose, later rebranded as “G for Genius”

🟨 2. Founding Story

📌 How, When & Why It Started

• Founded in 1929 by Mohanlal Dayal Chauhan in Vile Parle, Mumbai

• Initially focused on confectioneries (candies, toffees)

• In 1939, launched Parle Gluco biscuits to provide affordable, local alternatives to expensive imported biscuits during colonial rule

📌 Vision & Motivation

• Inspired by the Swadeshi movement

• Aim: Affordable, Indian-made, nutritious glucose biscuits for the masses

• Sought to fulfill market gap with mass appeal, nutrition, and reach

🟨 3. Early Challenges & Turning Points

📌 Challenges

• Import restrictions

• Shortages (e.g., wheat during Partition/WWII)

• Stiff competition from British and other local brands

📌 Key Turning Points

• Development of in-house packaging & branding

• Introduction of long ovens and scaling up production

• Rebranded from Parle Gluco to Parle-G in the 1980s to distinguish from imitators

🟨 4. Growth and Expansion

📌 Major Milestones

• 2011: Declared the world’s largest-selling biscuit brand (Nielsen)

• 2012: Crossed ₹5,000 crore in retail sales — first Indian FMCG brand to do so

• FY22: Crossed US$2 billion in revenue

📌 Domestic & Global Expansion

• Available across urban and rural India through millions of outlets

• Exports to over 100+ countries including USA, Canada, Australia, UK, Middle East, Africa

• Overseas manufacturing in Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Nepal, Mexico

📌 Distribution Channels

• Retail: Kirana stores, supermarkets, local shops

• Online: E-commerce platforms like Amazon

• Wholesale/Export: Global distributors, export partners

🟨 5. Business and Marketing Strategy

📌 Brand Identity

• Affordable pricing (e.g., iconic ₹5 packs; adjusted grammage)

• Nostalgic branding: Yellow-white wrapper, iconic “Parle-G girl”

📌 Core Marketing Strategies

• Mass accessibility, including remote rural India

• Consistent quality and taste across decades

• Strategic packaging & naming changes for brand uniqueness

📌 Advertising & Campaigns

• Minimal celebrity endorsements

• Emotional, nostalgic storytelling

• Famous jingles and slogans focused on daily use, strength, and trust

🟨 6. Quality and Certifications

📌 Certifications

• FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, Halal Certification

📌 Why These Matter

• Global food safety compliance

• Allows entry into Muslim-majority markets

• Ensures product traceability, hygiene, and consistency

📌 Quality Control

• Internal lab testing, process controls

• External audits as per export and compliance standards

🟨 7. Manufacturing & Supply Chain

📌 India Factory Locations

• Mumbai, Kanpur, Neemrana, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kutch, Khopoli, Indore, Pantnagar, Sitarganj, Bahadurgarh, Muzaffarpur

📌 International Manufacturing

• Plants in Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Nepal, Mexico

📌 Technology & Packaging

• Mechanised baking, long ovens, automation

• Packaging upgraded over time: wax paper → plastic wraps (maintaining iconic look)

• Export-compliant packaging for shelf life and regulations

🟨 8. Sustainability & Ethical Practices

📌 Environmental & CSR Practices

• No extensive public data on green initiatives

• Likely compliance with sustainability norms due to global exports

📌 Support for Communities

• Local procurement (e.g., wheat), employment via factories

• Strong CSR presence during crises — e.g., mass biscuit donations during COVID-19 lockdowns

🟨 9. Employees & HR Practices

📌 Workforce Size

• 10,000+ employees globally (LinkedIn)

• Includes domestic and international workforce, including contract staff

📌 Work Culture

• Reviews suggest structured work environment, stable employment

• Pride in legacy brand; challenges in work-life balance for some roles

🟨 10. Leadership & Vision

📌 Founders & Leaders

• Founder: Mohanlal Dayal Chauhan

• Current leadership: Chauhan family — Vijay Chauhan, Sharad Chauhan, Raj Chauhan

📌 Vision & Values

• Mission: Affordable, high-quality biscuits for all

• Values: Consistency, value-for-money, mass reach, food safety

📌 Leadership Role in Growth

• Guided Parle-G through decades of economic & political shifts

• Maintained low-cost, high-volume model while expanding globally

🟨 11. Financials & Market Presence

📌 Revenue & Turnover

• FY22 revenue: US$2 billion (~₹16,200+ crore)

📌 Market Share

• Market leader in volume in India’s biscuit segment

• Parle-G contributes ~50% of Parle’s biscuit revenue

• Rural markets account for 55-60% of volume

📌 Distribution Reach

• ~7.5 million retail outlets, 7,000+ distributors in India

• Global export distributors and manufacturing hubs

🟨 12. Challenges & Controversies

📌 Key Challenges

• Rising raw material & packaging costs

• Maintaining iconic ₹5 price point amid inflation

• GST and tax changes affecting low-margin segments

📌 Controversies

• Occasional complaints in export markets (e.g., packaging defects)

• Changes in wrapper material sometimes face public backlash

📌 Response to Issues

• Reduced grammage instead of raising price

• Focused on product availability during crises like COVID-19

• Emphasized consistency and community support

🟨 13. Awards & Recognitions

📌 Key Recognitions

• Multiple Monde Selection Awards (since 1971) for quality

• Nielsen Report: World’s best-selling biscuit (2011)

📌 Government & Industry Recognition

• Recognized for export certifications and presence in global associations like BCMA (USA)

🟨 14. Why Global Buyers Trust Parle-G

📌 Export Readiness

• Certified with FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, Halal

• Proven ability to meet international food safety standards

📌 Logistics & Market Adaptability

• Wide variety of pack sizes

• Local manufacturing reduces tariffs and shipping costs

• Strong logistics & supply chain reliability

📌 Competitive Advantage

• Rare combination of affordability, volume, quality, and brand trust

• Deep emotional connect with Indian diaspora and global customers

📌 Testimonials

• Parle-G used by NGOs and governments as relief food during COVID-19

• A recognized household staple globally

🟩 Quick Reference Table

🟦 Conclusion: A Global Symbol of Indian Pride

Parle‑G is more than a biscuit — it’s a symbol of India’s capability to build a brand that resonates across borders. From its humble start in Vile Parle to shelves across the world, Parle‑G represents trust, value, and Indian ingenuity.

For global partners, Parle-G offers:

• Reliable export-readiness

• Decades of consistent quality

• A brand that millions trust across continents

Truly, Parle-G stands for what “Made in India” can mean to the world.