‘Laddoos’ With a Twist: At 62, Homemaker Turns Her Love for Cooking Into Food Startup ‘Mama Nourish’

While most people think of retirement at 60, Usha Shrotiya, a 62-year-old homemaker, decided it was the perfect time to start a business. What began as a passion for cooking turned into Mama Nourish, a food brand that has captured hearts—and tastebuds—across India and beyond.

Her startup is now supplying legacy laddoos with a healthy twist to over 150 corporate giants, including Google, Netflix, IKEA, and more.

A Journey Rooted in Tradition

Growing up in Rajasthan, Usha Shrotiya was surrounded by the rich aromas of her mother’s and grandmother’s kitchens. Recipes were passed down like heirlooms, and the art of making laddoos wasn’t just about ingredients—it was about nourishment, care, and community.

Even after marriage and decades of family life, she kept the tradition alive, hand-making laddoos for her family, festivals, and local orders. It wasn’t until her children noticed the unique quality and flavor of her creations that the idea of a formal business took shape.

From Kitchen to Corporate

With encouragement from her son and daughter-in-law, Usha took the leap and launched Mama Nourish. The mission was simple yet powerful:

“To preserve traditional Indian laddoo recipes, modernize them, and make them accessible to today’s fast-paced world.”

The startup began small — with just three laddoo varieties — but the authenticity and health benefits of her recipes quickly attracted attention. These weren’t your average sugary sweets; each laddoo was made with ingredients like gond (edible gum), millets, dry fruits, seeds, and natural sweeteners.

Word spread fast. Soon, companies looking for wholesome and thoughtful gifting options began placing bulk orders.

What Makes Mama Nourish Special?

  1. Traditional Recipes with a Modern Touch: Usha reinvents ancient recipes using low sugar, gluten-free, or millet-based alternatives to cater to health-conscious customers.

  2. Handmade in Small Batches: No automation. Every laddoo is handmade in small batches to retain the authentic taste and texture.

  3. Clean-Label, Honest Ingredients: No preservatives. No additives. Just pure ingredients sourced from farmers and local cooperatives.

  4. Women-Led Team: Usha has built a small team of women in Jaipur, training them in the art of traditional cooking and supporting home-based livelihoods.

The Corporate Craze

With the growing demand for healthy, handmade snacks, Mama Nourish struck a chord with corporates. Whether it was festive gifting or wellness hampers, her laddoos quickly found their way into offices of:

  • Google

  • Netflix

  • IKEA

  • Deloitte

  • HSBC

  • And more than 150 organizations across India

In an era where food is often outsourced, mass-produced, and marketed aggressively, Mama Nourish stood out for its soul and story.

Recognition & Growth

What started from her home kitchen is now a full-fledged FSSAI-certified food enterprise, and Mama Nourish continues to expand its product line — from protein laddoos to postpartum nutrition packs, Ayurvedic-inspired immunity boosters, and seasonal specialties.

Despite the success, Usha remains humble:

“I just wanted people to taste real food, made with love like we used to at home. The rest followed naturally.”

A Lesson in Reinvention

Usha’s story isn’t just about laddoos — it’s about reinvention, self-belief, and the timeless power of tradition. At an age when many step back, she stepped forward to preserve her culture while building a modern, scalable business.

Mama Nourish is more than a brand — it’s a movement celebrating the forgotten flavors of Indian kitchens, reminding us that it’s never too late to start something beautiful.