THE MIDAS TOUCH

RAJNI BECTOR

She started with an investment of Rs 300. Now her company is worth Rs 800 crore. She had one worker when she started out 36 years back. Now, more than 6000 people report to her. Rajni Bector, 72. The founder and chairperson of Ludhianabased Cremica Group of companies baked her success story single-handedly. The cooking aficionado, who started making ice-creams and cakes as a hobby, never dreamt that one day she would be heading a multi-million rupee empire that manufactures breads, biscuits, sauces and ice-creams under the Cremica brand name. “I bought a small ice-cream churner and started making ice-creams, puddings and salads. I hired four people and we converted the annex of my house into a small unit. Thanks to the word-of-mouth publicity, we soon had a great number of orders pouring in,” Bector, who has won several awards including Businesswoman of the Year by PHDCCI, presented by the then Indian President, Mr APJ Abdul Kalam in 2005 and Outstanding Achievers Award by FICCI in 2013, says. Bector, who set up her first biscuit unit in 1991, says, “Back then, it was a taboo for Punjabi women from elite families to work. However, I never let the pressure affect me.” For somebody hailing from Punjab, and breaking away from the strong holds of a male dominated society and trade, Bector has not only paved a successful way for herself, but has also shown light to many more women who are garnering strength to give their dreams a shape.