Mehal Kejriwal hated milk.
So it might come as quite the surprise that she’s now running a business selling dairy products. But Mehal’s opinion changed once she realized her distaste was because of adulteration in commercially packaged milk.
“The first time I had farm fresh milk was a revelation. I drank nearly half a liter at one go,” she says.
Sensing an opportunity for organic farm fresh milk, she teamed up with her father to launch Happy Milk in December 2017. The Happy Milk farm is home to 450+ cows and supplies 4,500+ liters of milk to 1,800 homes and commercial customers. With a turnover of Rs 5 crore (approximately USD 695,000), Happy Milk is keen on building its product portfolio to include items such as cheese and butter. There are also plans to expand its reach in Bengaluru, where today it is sold in more than 150 stores across the city. It is also available via delivery apps, and the company actively participates in exhibitions as well.
Mehal says that using the WhatsApp Business app, which is accessible even by the non-tech savvy consumers, helps in driving the business.
“We have mothers and senior citizens reaching out to us on WhatsApp regularly. I know that I am able to get four times more customers than if I were not present on WhatsApp,” she says.
Happy Milk is looking to grow the business in a sustainable manner. Mehal believes that it’s not just about numbers, but the impact on people and the planet.
“For now, our focus is on Bengaluru and its ever-growing consumer base of conscious customers who believe in the philosophy of happy milk,” she says.
And maybe once hated milk too.