Our Story

The Story of Makinos by Leela

In 2020, amid the uncertainty of the COVID-19 lockdown, Leela Srivastava, an IIT graduate, found herself back in her hometown. As she reconnected with her roots, she took the time to explore the surrounding villages and rediscover the agricultural wealth of the region. It was during this time that she learned something surprising—her hometown was a major producer of makhana (fox nuts), a superfood she had always loved.

Intrigued, Leela decided to visit local farms and witness the makhana cultivation process firsthand. What she saw shocked her. Despite makhana’s rising popularity in health-conscious markets across India and beyond, the farmers who cultivated it were struggling to make ends meet. They worked tirelessly in challenging conditions, yet they earned only a fraction of what the end product sold for in urban stores. The gap between hard work and fair earnings was stark, and it deeply moved her.

Determined to make a difference, Leela began researching the makhana supply chain, uncovering inefficiencies and exploitative practices that left farmers with minimal profit margins. She realized that by creating a direct sourcing model, she could ensure that farmers received fair wages while also delivering higher-quality makhana to consumers.

With a vision to empower local farmers and bring ethically sourced makhana to the market, Leela founded Makinos Foods with just two employees and a simple yet powerful mission:
✔ Ensure fair pay for farmers
✔ Promote ethical sourcing practices
✔ Deliver premium-quality makhana to health-conscious consumers

The early days were challenging. With limited resources and no prior experience in the food industry, Leela had to navigate sourcing, production, and marketing from scratch. She personally visited farmers, built trust, and encouraged them to partner directly with Makinos Foods. She also worked on refining processing techniques, ensuring that the