Ramesh Chauhan on Family-Business Stewardship

In the 1970s, Jayantilal Chauhan split his soft drinks business between sons: Prakash Chauhan obtained control of Parle Agro, while Ramesh Chauhan received Parle Exports (now Bisleri International). In 1976, Parle Exports launched Maaza, a mango-pulp fruit drink — building a portfolio of beverages alongside the still-nascent mineral water business.

Chauhan told the Economic Times his reasons for the sale were poor health and the lack of a successor. His daughter Jayanti, although active at Bisleri for years and credited with restructuring HR, sales and marketing at the Delhi and Mumbai offices and modernizing factory automation, had decided not to take over the business. Her refusal sent shock waves through corporate India and left Chauhan with no family successor —.

Chauhan is quoted saying the sale decision was 'painful' but he chose Tata Consumer because they would 'nurture and take care of it even better'. He added that since he had no intention of running the company he would not keep a minority stake, choosing instead to invest the proceeds in environmental and charitable causes.