Cuttack:2/11/25:Sarat Kumar Sahoo, the visionary founder of Ruchi Masala, passed away on Sunday afternoon after a prolonged battle with cancer. He had been undergoing treatment at a hospital in Mumbai, where he breathed his last.
Sources close to the family confirmed that his mortal remains would soon be brought back to Cuttack for the final rites.
Sahoo, a prominent industrialist from Odisha, established his company in 1976 under the name Om Oil and Flour Mills in Cuttack’s industrial area. What began as a small venture producing turmeric powder gradually expanded into a diverse range of spices, masalas, pasta, noodles, and ready-to-eat foods. Over nearly five decades, Ruchi has become a household name not just in Odisha but across rural and urban India, with products even being exported internationally.
The success of Ruchi Masala is largely attributed to Sahoo’s hard work, strategic management, and dedication. As the Managing Director, he transformed a modest enterprise into one of India’s leading food brands. His son, Arbind Sahoo, and daughter-in-law, Rashmi Sahoo, who serve as directors, have played key roles in elevating the company to new heights.
Tributes poured in from across the business and political spectrum, highlighting Sahoo’s indelible impact on Odisha’s industrial landscape.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep sorrow, calling it an “irreparable loss” to the state’s business world, and prayed for the departed soul’s peace.