In the heart of bustling London, two mothers—Anshu Ahuja and Renee Williams—are redefining food delivery with a powerful mix of nostalgia, sustainability, and spice. Their startup, Dabba Drop, is a plastic-free tiffin service inspired by Mumbai’s legendary dabba culture. And it’s more than just delivering curry—it’s creating a food revolution worth over £2 million.

Their venture has not only won hearts across the UK but has also prevented more than 2 lakh single-use plastic containers from ending up in landfills.

When Two Moms Cook Up an Idea

The idea behind Dabba Drop came from the shared love of home-cooked meals and a deep concern for the planet. Anshu, originally from Mumbai, missed the comforting taste of ghar ka khana. Renee, a seasoned marketing professional, shared her vision of doing something sustainable and community-driven.

Together, over casual conversations about curry and kids, they found a solution to a major urban problem—plastic-heavy takeaway culture. Why not deliver flavour-packed meals in reusable, traditional dabbas just like in India?

The Birth of Dabba Drop

Dabba Drop launched in 2018 from their kitchens in London. The model was simple yet revolutionary:

  • Deliver weekly, rotating Indian-inspired meals

  • Use stainless steel tiffins instead of plastic containers

  • Operate via a subscription model to reduce food waste

  • Offer vegan, zero-waste options with local ingredients

Customers would receive delicious curries, daals, and sides in eco-friendly dabbas that were picked up, cleaned, and reused—just like in Mumbai.

From Kitchen Table to £2 Million Brand

What started with just a few neighbours soon grew into a network of thousands of happy subscribers across London. As the buzz spread, Dabba Drop was featured in media like BBC, The Guardian, Vogue, and TimeOut London.

Within five years, the business was valued at over £2 million, with a team of chefs, logistics partners, and sustainability advisors.

Key highlights of their journey:

  • Over 2,00,000 single-use plastic containers saved

  • Around 10,000+ dabbas in circulation

  • Delivering in multiple London boroughs

  • Partnerships with eco-conscious brands and zero-waste stores

A Taste of India, a Dose of Sustainability

Each Dabba Drop meal feels like a warm hug from home. Menus feature slow-cooked dals, tangy chutneys, fresh rotis, and seasonal veggies—all designed to delight both the Indian diaspora and London locals.

But beyond the taste, it’s the message that resonates: eating well shouldn’t cost the planet.

The tiffins are inspired by the stainless steel lunchboxes used in Indian households and are central to their closed-loop delivery system. Customers rinse and return the containers during the next delivery, eliminating single-use packaging altogether.

Impact Beyond the Plate

Anshu and Renee aren’t just running a business—they’re building a movement around conscious consumption. Dabba Drop hosts community events, sustainability talks, and cooking workshops to educate Londoners about:

  • South Asian food heritage

  • Reducing food waste

  • Eco-friendly habits at home

They also support local charities and food banks, ensuring no leftover food goes to waste.

The Road Ahead

Dabba Drop is now exploring:

  • Expansion to other UK cities

  • Retail-ready sauces and spice blends

  • Collaborations with green brands and delivery startups

The founders are also in talks with schools and offices to introduce healthy, planet-friendly meal plans.

Conclusion

Anshu Ahuja and Renee Williams have done more than just create a business. They’ve revived an Indian legacy, made it modern, and packaged it in stainless steel with a side of purpose. Their story is proof that even in one of the world’s busiest cities, home-cooked food and homegrown values can still lead the way.

From a kitchen conversation to a £2 million empire, Dabba Drop is dishing out more than meals—it’s serving sustainability with every bite.