It all began with a man who believed that real change doesn't always start in big cities—it can rise from the soil of a small temple town.
Dr. Bharadwaj Karanth, a native of Sringeri, began his professional journey as a Computer Science faculty member at Manipal Academics.
His deep passion for knowledge and teaching soon brought him back to his roots, where he served as a Lecturer at Sri JCBM Degree College, Sringeri. Alongside mentoring young minds, he pursued and completed his Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence, foreseeing how the future would be shaped by technology and innovation.
But what truly stirred him wasn't just technology—it was the lives of the students he interacted with. Many of them were children of farmers. They had land, they had heritage, but they lacked opportunity. Poor crop yields caused by diseases, combined with the lack of local jobs, forced them to leave Sringeri for Bengaluru and other cities. Watching them go, leaving behind ageing parents and ancestral farms, left a mark on Dr. Bharadwaj. Once bustling with youth, Sringeri was slowly turning into a town of elders.
He also noticed another painful challenge—farmers had to travel nearly 100 kilometres to the nearest APMC to sell their produce. Crops like jackfruit, banana, and other fruits and veggies, grown abundantly in the region, were often wasted due to the absence of buyers. These problems weren’t just statistics—they were real, human stories unfolding around him every day.
It was clear to him: Sringeri needed a solution. One that could help both the farmers and the youth. A solution rooted in the region’s strength—agriculture.
And then, one day, while shopping locally, he saw something that would become a turning point. A child at a grocery store was adamantly asking for a pack of chips—unhealthy, artificially flavoured junk. The parents, helpless and without better choices, gave in. That moment sparked something. What if there were a healthier, tastier, and more meaningful alternative?
That’s where the concept of Fruit Treat was born.
Dr. Bharadwaj began researching snack technologies and discovered vacuum frying—a process that uses minimal oil, retains natural nutrients, and requires no preservatives or added colours. Unlike most commercial snacks that merely use flavours to mimic fruits or vegetables, this method would convert real fruits and vegetables into delicious, healthy snacks.
With his own savings, he set up a small production unit under the name Karanth’s Foods Pvt. Ltd. in Sringeri. The facility was humble, but the vision was massive. He procured vacuum frying machines, onboarded a few team members—many of them his former students—and started with locally available fruits like banana, jackfruit, papaya, and sapodilla (chikoo). And so, the brand name Fruit Treat came to life—a treat made from real fruits and Grown by Nature.
People were amazed. The idea of a chip tasting exactly like the fruit it came from? It was tasty and exciting. As word spread, Fruit Treat found its way into Bengaluru's health-conscious market, where it quickly gained popularity.
Over the years, the range expanded. Through continuous R&D, vegetable-based snacks like okra (bhindi), sweet potato, garlic, and others were introduced. The bhindi chips, in particular, became a massive hit.
Today, after five years of dedication and hard work, Fruit Treat has grown into a recognised brand. The factory has a team of 25+ full-time employees in Sringeri, and a growing 10-member operations and marketing team in Bengaluru. The products are now available in over 500 retail stores across Bengaluru, and expanding across Mangaluru, Mysuru, Chennai, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Kolkata.
With the rise of e-commerce, Fruit Treat now serves customers across India through platforms like Swiggy Instamart, Zepto, BigBasket, Amazon, and its own website—www.fruittreat.com.
But beyond numbers, what makes this journey remarkable is the impact:
- Local women from farming families are now employed and financially empowered.
- Young adults who once dreamed of leaving Sringeri now stay back, build careers, and care for their parents.
- Farmers no longer need to travel to distant markets—they can sell their produce locally at a fair price.
This may seem like a small step, but it's a spark that’s lighting up an entire region. What began as an effort to solve a local problem has grown into a movement to redefine how India snacks while reconnecting communities to their roots.
Fruit Treat is not just a brand. It’s a story of vision, heart, and the relentless belief that real change begins at home.
If this story resonates with you, if you believe in healthier choices, supporting our farmers, and empowering rural youth, we invite you to be a part of our journey.
Choose snacks that don’t just taste good, but do good.
Choose Fruit Treat.
To explore our range of delicious and nutritious snacks, and to know more about our story, visit us at 👉 www.fruittreat.com
Join us in creating a better tomorrow—one bite at a time.