Giani ice cream is not just ice cream but an emotion for Delhiites. The creamy ice creams made of milk, cream and butter, stands apart from frozen desserts. From slurping a bowl of Giani ice cream after a meal to tucking into their famous Gajar Ka Halwa, Giani has a special place in the hearts of Delhiites. But the story behind this bestselling ice cream brand starts from a refugee who was displaced during the Partition of India. Read on to know more.
Giani Gurcharan Singh Moved To India As A Refugee Post Partition
Giani Gurcharan Singh ran a sweet shop in Pakistan that was famous for offering high-quality yet affordable traditional sweets. During the Partition of India, he was displaced and settled as a refugee in Delhi’s Fatehpuri, Chandni Chowk. Leaving his life’s earnings and belongings in his homeland, he carried with him his sweet making skills and experience across the border. According to The Better India, on reaching Delhi, he opened a small store and sold rabri falooda, mango and pineapple shakes and more. This business was established around 1951 and officially registered in 1956.
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He Opened Giani Di Hatti In Delhi & Sold Traditional Sweets
Giani Gurcharan Singh’s sweet shop was known for serving sweets that were prepared with top-notch ingredients. The sweets were priced reasonably so they could be affordable by the middle class and lower middle class as well. Over time, the store was called ‘Giani Di Hatti’. Famous personalities like Raj Kapoor and Mohammad Rafi apart from ministers thronged the shop to gorge on delicious mithai. But this was just the start for Giani Di Hatti that was destined to create a mark in not just Delhi but across India.
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The Family Business Starts Expanding In The 1970s
In 1970, Giani’s eldest son, Gurbachan joined the family business. In order to meet the increasing demand for sweets, the father-son duo bought a second-hand ice cream freezer. Until then, everything was handmade, but in order to increase sales, they had to shift towards mechanisation. For around 30 years, Giani Di Hatti functioned out of its old shop. But expansion was certainly needed.
Giani Starts Selling Ice Creams To Appeal To Youth
By then, Gurbachan started training his son, Taranjeet the art of making ice cream. Taranjeet revealed to Your Story that his training in Fatehpuri encompassed procuring raw materials, mixing and preparing ice cream. By the 1990s, Giani Gurcharan Singh’s grandson and Gurbachan’s son, Taranjeet stepped in to take over the family legacy. He had a fresh perspective to meet the needs of customers in residential localities. So, Giani opened its first outlet in Rajouri Garden where they served a variety of ice creams to appeal to the younger generation.
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Giani Opens 100 Stores Across India; Sells Over 100 Varieties Of Ice Creams
Giani ice creams include over 100 varieties where their bestsellers include Giani Special Ice Cream Hot Chocolate Fudge, Belgian Chocolate, Black Forest, kulfis, cakes and others. They also started offering a range of sugarless ice creams, low-fat ice creams, gelatos and protein ice creams, while maintaining an affordable rate throughout. What started as a small sweet shop opened by Taranjeet’s grandfather in Delhi soon spread to 40 outlets across Delhi with franchisee models in other cities like Bangalore, Mumbai and others, totalling 100 stores in India. By December 2021. Giani Ice Cream will reach Haryana, Odisha, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
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Family Legacy Started By A Refugee Turns To Multi-Crore Business
However, in the mid-2000s, the Giani family split the business. Taranjeet took over the operations at Giani and his uncle opened a new business by the name ‘Giani’s Ice Cream’. This was a mutual decision and they continue to maintain healthy competition. When the coronavirus pandemic created havoc in the food industry, Giani was quick to adapt. They changed the packaging, made it tamper-proof for hygiene and health safety. Taranjeet revealed to The Better India that the ice cream store focussed on deliveries since Delhiites missed their favourite ice cream during the lockdowns.
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The family business of Giani founded by a refugee, Giani Gurcharan Singh first sold rabri falooda, gajar and moong dal halwa. Today, the legacy has been carried forward by three generations across 100 stores earning a whopping amount that spans multiple crores. This is Delhi’s pride that has spread its sweet flavours, traditional mithai and delicious ice creams all across our country. A refugee became a crorepati and showed through example how honesty in business, high-quality in ingredients and innovation in techniques can move mountains.