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Working out of a home-like setup in Indiranagar, they spent 3 years researching ingredients and refining recipes. Initially, many told them that health doesn’t sell well in India.
To build trust, Suhasini used a surprisingly personal marketing move by printing her own phone number on the back of the packaging for direct feedback. Image: Instagram
The story of Yoga Bar is not just about a snack; it is a story of how two sisters from Bengaluru turned a “health-first” philosophy into a ₹500 crore empire. Founded by sisters Suhasini and Anindita Sampath, the brand has become one of the city’s biggest homegrown success stories. Their journey is a blend of high-level academic discipline and a deep-rooted family passion for nutrition.
Family Roots and Education
Suhasini and Anindita grew up in a disciplined, academics-focused household in Bengaluru alongside their elder sister, Aarti. Their mother was a significant influence, often preparing healthy, home-cooked versions of popular snacks to steer the girls away from processed foods. This upbringing instilled a lifelong awareness of clean eating that would eventually become the core of their business.
Both sisters possess impressive professional backgrounds. Anindita is an alumna of BITS Pilani and IIM Calcutta and formerly worked as a manager at Ernst & Young in New York. Suhasini is a Chartered Accountant with an MBA from the London Business School and the Wharton School, having previously served as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company.
The New York Epiphany
In 2012, while living in the United States, the sisters were regular attendees at a yoga studio near the Flatiron Building in New York. After a gruelling session, they stopped at a local store to grab a snack.
While eating a protein bar, Anindita joked that if she ever started a business, she would call it Yoga Bar. Suhasini found the name so compelling that she trademarked it immediately, even though it would be four years before they sold their first product.
The sisters returned to India with a mission to create a clean label snack in a market where healthy was often equated with tasteless. Working out of a home-like setup in Indiranagar, they spent three years researching ingredients and refining recipes. Initial retailers were sceptical, often telling them that health does not sell in India.
To build trust, Suhasini used a surprisingly personal marketing move by printing her own phone number on the back of the packaging for direct feedback. Their sister Aarti provided the initial funding, and the brand received a crucial boost when the state government funded a grant meant for start-ups to help set up their first manufacturing unit.
The ITC Acquisition and Valuation
By early 2023, Yoga Bar caught the eye of the FMCG giant ITC, which was looking to expand its nutrition-led portfolio. ITC entered a binding agreement to acquire 100% of Sproutlife Foods, the parent company of Yoga Bar, in a deal valued at approximately 500 crore rupees.
The acquisition is being completed in tranches, with ITC initially taking a 39.4% stake for 175 crore rupees. As of early 2026, the brand has surpassed the 200-crore revenue milestone for the fiscal year 2025, reflecting a massive 83% growth from the previous year.
Where Are the Founders Now?
Despite the high-profile acquisition, both sisters remain deeply involved in the business. Anindita serves as the CEO, leading product development and the creative vision, while Suhasini serves as the COO, managing operations and financial discipline.
A unique detail of their success story is their grounded lifestyle. Despite the wealth, they continue to live in a rented house in Bengaluru. The sisters continue to operate out of their Bengaluru headquarters as they work to scale the brand to over 100,000 retail outlets across India.
March 04, 2026, 13:54 IST
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