05-05-2025
SLMG Beverages founder S.N. Ladhani passes away at 85
New Delhi:
S.N. Ladhani
, founder of
SLMG Beverages
and the force behind
Coca-Cola India
's largest
bottling operations
, passed away at his residence in
Bareilly
on May 2 at the age of 85.
Ladhani, who began his entrepreneurial journey in the 1950s, built SLMG Beverages into Coca-Cola India's largest bottling partner, operating major plants across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and a new facility underway in Buxar, Bihar. His contributions played a significant role in shaping the beverage distribution ecosystem in northern India.
Under his leadership, the first Coca-Cola bottle in India post-liberalization was produced at the Agra plant in 1992. Today, SLMG employs over 10,000 people directly and supports thousands more across its supply chain.
Ladhani also diversified into sectors including hospitality, renewable energy, real estate, and animal feed. Notably, he partnered with the
Oberoi Group
to develop a premium hotel in Rishikesh and invested in green energy projects generating nearly 75 MW.
A Shraddhanjali Sabha held on May 4 in Bareilly saw attendance from several dignitaries, including BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain, Oberoi Group Chairman Arjun Oberoi, and various political and business leaders. Tributes also poured in from public figures such as UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, actor Suniel Shetty, and senior bureaucrats.
Born in 1940 in Sindh (pre-Partition India), Ladhani migrated to Ayodhya and began his professional life in Katihar, Bihar. His journey from construction to cold storage, and eventually to building a beverage empire, is remembered as a testament to vision and perseverance.
He is survived by his family and is remembered not just for his business accomplishments but also for his humility, philanthropy, and deep-rooted values.
