Starting With Rs 1500, Cancer Survivor Builds Rs 39 Lakh Pickle Business

At 56, when many contemplate retirement, Laveena Jain was just getting started—on her second life and her second innings as an entrepreneur. A cancer survivor from Uttar Pradesh, she transformed personal struggle and a lifelong passion for food into a thriving ₹39 lakh business selling homemade pickles, murabbas, jams, and squash under the brand Laveena’s Tripti Foods.

A Fresh Start After a Life-Altering Diagnosis

Laveena’s entrepreneurial journey began not in a boardroom or a business school, but in her own kitchen. After battling cancer, she was left physically weakened but mentally stronger than ever. "The illness made me realise that life is too short not to do what you love," she recalls.

Armed with nothing more than an old family recipe book, Rs 1,500 in savings, and her culinary expertise, she began making small batches of murabba and pickle for her friends in the local kitty club. What started as gifts and samples quickly turned into requests for more—and eventually, orders.

The Birth of Tripti Foods

Encouraged by the overwhelming response, Laveena formalized her venture under the name Tripti Foods, named after the Sanskrit word for satisfaction. Working from her home in Kanpur, she sourced fresh, local ingredients and used traditional preservation methods passed down through generations.

Her first sale was worth just Rs 200—but the joy of that transaction planted the seed of a business vision. Over the next few months, word-of-mouth marketing from kitty club members and local acquaintances helped her scale production.

From Homemade to High Demand

Laveena’s offerings soon expanded from pickles to murabbas, jams, squashes, and other condiments. Her unique selling point? Authentic taste, no preservatives, and recipes that evoke nostalgia.

As demand grew, she started participating in exhibitions and food melas across Uttar Pradesh. Her stall, filled with neatly packed jars and aromatic delights, became a regular feature—and a customer favourite.

With support from her daughter and a few local women whom she trained, Laveena scaled up her production and began retailing through WhatsApp, Instagram, and small local distributors.

A Business That’s All Heart

Tripti Foods now generates an annual turnover of around ₹39 lakh and supports the livelihoods of over 15 women. It’s not just a business—it’s a movement to revive traditional Indian flavors while empowering women who, like Laveena, are looking for a second chance.

What makes her venture special is the personal touch in every jar. "Each recipe has a story. Some are from my mother, others from my nani. I just added my love and care to them," she shares.

Plans for the Future

Laveena now dreams of scaling her brand nationally and introducing healthier variants of pickles and spreads. She's exploring options for online retail expansion and is seeking food safety certifications to further boost trust and credibility.

Her advice to other aspiring entrepreneurs? "Start small, stay honest to your craft, and don’t let age or illness stop you."

Final Thoughts

From a small kitchen to kitchens across Uttar Pradesh, Laveena Jain’s journey is a reminder that passion, perseverance, and pickles can create powerful transformations. Her brand, Tripti Foods, not only celebrates flavors but also the triumph of the human spirit.