The Journey of Shree Balaji Fruits: From Small Beginnings to Rs 100 Crores Under Pankaj Rathore’s Visionary Leadership
From Rs 1,500 salary to Rs 100-crore company — the rise of Pankaj Rathore.
Shree Balaji Fruits’ Founder Pankaj Rathore’s journey from humble origins to helming a Rs 100-crore company reflects determination and industry growth in India’s fruit trade.
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Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 17: Among the most compelling tales of entrepreneurial success in India is that of Mr. Pankaj Rathore, Founder and Managing Director of Shree Balaji Fruits Pvt. Ltd. From earning a modest salary of just ₹1,500 in Delhi, Rathore has built his venture into a thriving ₹100-crore enterprise.
With a clear vision to master the fruit trade and make a mark in one of the most competitive sectors, Rathore laid the foundation of Balaji Fruits in 2011 as a small proprietorship. Through relentless dedication, self-belief, and an unflinching focus on quality, the venture steadily transformed and, by 2018, evolved into Shree Balaji Fruits Pvt. Ltd. — a fully-fledged Indian company with a rapidly growing presence across the nation.
Today, Shree Balaji Fruits employs over 150–200 people and operates in multiple Indian cities. The company has earned a reputation as a market leader in the import and distribution of premium-quality fruits, including Dragon Fruit and Grapes — sourced directly from Vietnam and China, respectively — and marketed under its trusted brand, Shree Balaji Fruits.
The journey was not easy, though. Like other firms, Shree Balaji Fruits suffered a major setback during the COVID-19 outbreak, when supply chains broke down and markets closed down. It was, though, Rathore’s unshakeable dedication and strong identification with the market, and his loyalty to his employees, that enabled the company to stand up again. Within a few months of reopening, the business was back in business and headed in the right direction again, a testament to the strength of perseverance and leadership.

The company now boasts a turnover of more than ₹100 crores under the direction of Rathore, which is a big feat in the fresh produce industry. His other efforts have been focused on exporting Indian fruits, especially bananas, to foreign markets, where the freshness of Indian produce is being introduced to international consumers.
Being a regular traveller, Rathore travels to fruit markets and farms across the world to find new types and collaborates with them to introduce new products among Indian consumers. His long-term vision is not only to get the world’s best fruits into India but also to export Indian fruits around the world.
Shree Balaji Fruits Pvt. Ltd. has its presence in different cities of India, such as Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, and Nagaland, and so on.
Besides business, Pankaj Rathore is also a good well-wisher involved in social welfare. Through his NGO, Shri Bajrang Mandal Haryana, he has been actively involved in community welfare by sponsoring causes that empower and uplift people.
Pankaj Rathore’s tale is one of determination, belief, and mission — a boy who used to make ₹1,500 a month and now leads a prosperous ₹100-crore venture. His journey is still inspiring tens of thousands of entrepreneurs all over India, demonstrating that even the smallest seed, given vision and integrity, will grow into a giant tree.
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