The Woman Behind Mrs Bector’s Cremica and English Oven

Born in Karachi, Rajni Bector came to Ludhiana in Punjab at the time of Partition. She grew up in the city and got married at the age of 17. After raising three sons and sending them off to boarding school, Bector enrolled herself for a course in Punjab Agriculture University. (File Photo)

An ardent cook and baker from the start, Bector’s recipes for ice cream and cakes soon became popular among her friends and associates, encouraging her to borrow Rs 300 for an oven. And that’s how the biscuit brand first began – with a Rs 300 oven and ice cream that Bector churned in her own backyard. In 1978, when the Bector’s backyard bakery began to attract an overwhelming amount of attention, Bector’s family loaned her Rs 20,000 to set up an ice cream manufacturing unit. (File Photo)

Mrs Bector chose the name ‘Cremica’ as a play on the Hindi words ‘Cream ka’, meaning made out of cream. (File Photo)

The opening up of the Indian economy in the 90s was the next big change that helped Cremica grow further, opening up the way for Mrs Bector’s little bakery to become known across the country. By the 90s, the company had started to manufacture buns, biscuits, breads, and sauces. (File Photo)

Its big break, however, came in 1995 when it bagged the deal to supply buns to fast-food chain McDonald’s’. The aggressive expansion of the fast-food chain in India helped Mrs Bector’s Cremica grow as well. (File Photo)

In 2006, Mrs Bector’s Cremica made Rs 100 crores. By 2011-12, it was making Rs 650 crores in annual sales. Today, the Ludhiana-based company is the Indian supplier of bread, pizza bases, sauces and other condiments and confectionary items for international brands like Burger King, Pizza Hut, Papa John’s as well as the Indian Railways. (File Photo)

Cremica is now being sold in over 23 states through 550,000 Outlets. English Oven is now one of the largest selling premium bakery brands in India, with products ranging from sweet to savoury, gourmet to Indian delicacies and much more. (File Photo)

Mrs Bector’s success is an inspiration for countless women in India who dream of starting their own food business. With the right skills and passion, even a backyard could be the best place to start. (File Photo)