Fruit to frozen treats: 'Ice Cream Man' Raghunandan Srinivas Kamath no more

Raghunandan Srinivas Kamath, renowned as the 'Ice Cream Man of India' and the founder of Naturals Ice Cream (a brand under Kamaths Ourtimes Ice Creams Pvt. Ltd), has passed away in Mumbai. He was 70 years old. Mr. Kamath breathed his last at the HN Reliance Foundation Hospital on Friday night after battling illness.

Originally hailing from Puttur, Mangaluparam, Karnataka, Raghunandan was one of seven children born to a humble fruit seller. His early days were spent accompanying his father to vend fruits, where his passion for the trade began to take root. Over time, this passion evolved into the concept for an ice cream enterprise.

The tale of Naturals Ice Cream's ascent commenced at a Pav Bhaji stall in Juhu, Mumbai. With a modest team of six and a dozen flavours on offer, Mr. Kamath inaugurated his inaugural ice cream outlet in the bustling city. Today, Naturals Ice Cream boasts a network of 165 stores across 15 Indian cities, marking a remarkable journey from its humble beginnings.