Atul V. Bedekar, the renowned spice and pickles king, and Director of the V. P. Bedekar & Sons group, passed away early on Friday after battling with a prolonged illness, according to family sources. Bedekar, who was 56 years old, breathed his last at a private hospital around 12.30 a.m. due to cancer.
The last rites of Bedekar will be conducted today at a crematorium in South Mumbai. As a mark of respect for the fourth-generation scion of the Bedekar group, all shops and outlets of the 123-year-old enterprise remained closed.
The Bedekar group, known for its spices, pickles, papads, and ready-mixes, has been a prominent name since its inception in 1910 late V. P. Bedekar as a grocery shop in Girguam. V. V. Bedekar, the teenage son of V. P. Bedekar, played a significant role in expanding the business introducing a range of spices in 1917 and pickles in 1921, which gained popularity among connoisseurs.
This success led to the establishment of Bedekar shops in Thakurdwar, Parel, Dadar, and Fort, and the customer base expanded rapidly. To meet the increasing demand, five new manufacturing units were added, and the business was transformed into a private limited company in 1943. Currently, the company’s turnover exceeds Rs 100 crore.
The Bedekar brand and its products have become synonymous with quality and are household names in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and other regions. Additionally, Bedekar products are available on shelves in the US, Canada, Middle East, Australia, Europe, and various Far Eastern countries.