Check out Ditto:https://ditto.sh/9hmopbAbout Guest:Ajay Gupta is the visionary founder behind Capital Foods, who created household brands like Ching’s Secret and Smith & Jones. With a background in disruptive advertising, he revolutionised Indian kitchens by popularising Desi Chinese cuisine. His bold marketing strategies and consumer insight built a ₹2,000 crore empire, recently acquired by Tata. Today, he continues his journey as Senior Advisor to the CEO at Tata Consumer Products Ltd.In this podcast, Ajay Gupta shares his remarkable journey from bankruptcy to building Capital Foods, home to Ching’s Secret and Smith & Jones. He discusses the emotional toll of failure, the vision behind launching Desi Chinese in India, and the power of storytelling and branding. Ajay reflects on scaling without credit, reinventing home cooking, and ultimately selling his ₹2,000 crore business to Tata, offering deep lessons on resilience, innovation, and legacy-building.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction02:15 Marketing vs. Advertising02:55 Understanding Consumer Wants06:21 The Rise of Indian Fashion07:21 Transition to Marketing and Advertising08:07 Seeking Knowledge and Mentorship10:24 Case Studies and Observations11:32 Building a Fashion Retail Empire12:28 Entering the Food Industry14:16 Challenges in the Food Business15:05 Export Strategies and Innovations20:01 The Birth of Desi Chinese23:54 Survival and Growth Strategies27:31 The Role of Supermarkets29:44 Exporting Indian Cuisine38:27 Maintaining Profitability48:10 Observations on Consumer Behavior49:11 Future of Indian Market53:48 Opportunities in New Categories55:41 Affordable Pricing Strategies56:14 Consumer Aspirations and Dining Table Excitement56:55 The Complexity of Food Marketing58:00 Understanding Consumer Behavior58:27 Rural and Urban Market Insights01:00:37 Capital Foods' Market Approach01:10:07 The Role of Brand Ambassadors01:11:00 Building a Strong Brand Identity01:24:51 The Importance of Human Connection in Business01:33:21 Balancing Health and Taste01:36:08 The Journey of Wealth Creation01:39:56 The Power of Belief in Entrepreneurship01:42:47 The Role of Luck in Success01:43:09 Admiration for Successful Brands01:43:49 The Emotional Connection with Amul01:47:14 Respect and Human Values01:47:28 Bucket List Achievements01:48:49 Philanthropy and Impact Investment01:50:29 Reflections on the Journey01:50:52 Final Thoughts and GratitudeCredits: Host: Shivank Joshi – https://www.linkedin.com/in/shivankjoshi-2001/Thumbnail: YaaSPost Production: YaaSSupport: Zerodha ( https://zero1byzerodha.com/network )Disclaimer:The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by the speaker and host are their own and do not represent those of the Exploring Minds platform. The information provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. All products and company names mentioned are the property of their respective owners, and their use does not imply any endorsement or opposition.#AjayGupta #CapitalFoods #ChingsSecret #SmithAndJones #Entrepreneurship #Resilience #Innovation #StartupStory #Foodpreneur #Branding #Marketing #BusinessGrowth #Founder #DesiChinese #Inspiration #Leadership #Visionary #Success #Legacy #FoodRevolution #Disruption #Motivation #TataGroup #Acquisition #Growth #Courage #Storytelling #Transformation #Hustle #IndiaBusiness