TR Raghulal, who revolutionised Kerala's bread-making and built Elite's plum cake legacy, no more

T. R. Raghulal, the founder, chairman, and managing director of Elite Foods & Innovations Group, passed away in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, November 11, at the age of 64. He was the son of the late T. R. Raghavan and Yamuna. After earning a management degree from the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, he returned home to step into the business world. Final respects were paid on Wednesday evening at his residence, Elite Gardenia, in Puzhakkal, Thrissur. His funeral will take place on Thursday, November 12, at 10:30 AM at the same venue.

From US inspiration to South India's food giant

Raghulal began his entrepreneurial journey in 1986 with a bread manufacturing unit at Aroor in Alappuzha district. During his stay in the US, he noticed that while people in Kerala loved bread, the quality he enjoyed abroad was missing locally. Driven to bridge this gap, he imported modern machinery and introduced technologies previously unseen in Indian bakeries. Notably, he built the homegrown brand entirely without venture capital or investor funding.

To ensure a steady supply of high-quality flour, he integrated backwards by setting up a roller flour mill. Elite also became the first company in India to produce rusks commercially. Over the decades, it grew into South India's largest food processing enterprise. Today, the group operates 12 state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, distributing over 150 products to 250,000 outlets worldwide. In FY2023, the brand recorded an operating income of Rs 822 crore. Raghulal also diversified his enterprise into real estate with Elite Developers and solar energy through Solgen Energy.

The plum cake standard and child safety motto

For generations of South Indians, Elite's festive plum cake stood as the gold standard for celebrations. Raghulal built the enterprise around a firm motto: every Elite product must be safe for children to consume every day.

Leadership was gradually shared with his children, Danesa Raghulal and Raguram Raghulal. As executive director, Danesa introduced a lighter pudding cake range alongside the classic festive plum cake to provide healthier, fluffier options for everyday consumption.

Sustainability, GI tags, and community service

Beyond business, Raghulal actively contributed to agriculture, environmental protection, and social causes. As former chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), he spearheaded efforts to secure Geographical Indication (GI) status for Palakkadan Matta and Navara rice, bringing global recognition to local farmers. He led studies to protect the Periyar river from industrial pollution and organised Kerala's first organic farming seminar.

In healthcare, he founded 'We Care' at Thrissur Medical College, an organisation providing free medicines to children suffering from leukemia. He also served as treasurer of the Kerala Tennis Association and was a director of Kerala Solvent Extractions Limited.

Leadership tributes and family legacy

Tributes poured in following his passing, acknowledging his contribution to the state's industrial growth. Kerala CM VD Satheesan’s message issued on his demise noted: "Deeply saddened by the demise of Shri T R Raghulal, the visionary founder of Elite Foods. He built a homegrown brand that made Keralam proud and significantly contributed to our state's industrial growth. My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones."

He is survived by his wife Sariga, daughter Danesa, son Raguram, and son-in-law Rohit Muralya. He also leaves behind five siblings: Dr T. R. Venugopal, T. R. Vijayakumar, Sheela Rajeev, Beena Kailasnathan, and Sini Santhosh. His brothers-in-law include K. Kailasnathan, Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, and the late V. R. Rajeevan, former Kerala DGP.