Parle G - An Energetic Piece

Back in 2016, when Kenny Sebastian, the king of Indian stand-up comedy, brought out a well-loved biscuit during his special vlog ‘chai time’ many viewers took to him, almost seeming to thank him for bringing back the feeling of nostalgia. But even before that, Parle-G had turned into a substitute for an undiscovered time machine that had managed to unite the ever-clashing generations in their love for the biscuit and the different memories of childhood that they all cherish. This is the story of Parle-G.

Parle is known for its famous glucose-packed biscuit ‘Parle-G’ Source: parleproducts

In 1929, when 18-year-old Dayal Chauhan returned to his homeland, he brought back with him the art of baking and confectionery from his trip to Germany. His inspiration is said to have struck him amidst the Swadeshi movement in India, this was the same time the second world war was raging on.

The Parle company’s production is not only limited to the biscuits in the present day but also includes both sweet and savoury snacks as well. However, there’s no doubt that a larger part of the company’s income comes from the Parle-G biscuit. In fact, the biscuit alone is said to be sold in the bulk of millions every month. The biscuit’s versatility itself is such that it is popular among adults and children equally. Therefore, it is no wonder that it won the Monde Selection Award as early as 1971.

Did you know? Parle has not only been a leader in the production of biscuits but also in technology. They are credited with being the first to make the longest oven in India, almost 250 feet long!

Source: (parleproducts)

Presently Parle’s legacy reflects in its product excellence, and its popularity shows through its sales. While consuming Thumbs-Up, Frooti, or even Hide & Seek, it is not to be forgotten that if it weren’t for the Parle-G biscuit, then the company might not have done as well as it has in the long run.

Accordingly, Chauhan set up the first Parle factory in India after the ‘Vile Parle’ of Mumbai and that too with the help of only twelve confectionery workers! With the history of independence entangled in it right from the start, Parle G biscuit's roots are naturally based on the inclusivity of the Indian masses, perhaps that is also why we find our grandparents still attached to them. Parle G biscuits now have a whopping range of biscuit varieties, but the essence remains the same as the first biscuit, Parle Gluco, that they produced back in 1938.

With the conventional rectangular shape that was just enough to dip into tea cups as well as their affordable pricing, Parle soon saw an exponential rise in their sales. Moreover, during the famine of 1943-1944, Parle became a staple in every Indian household due to its nutritional value, affordability and accessibility. The much debated ‘G’ in ‘Parle-G’ has been confirmed to stand for ‘glucose’, which works to provide strength and energy, enough to produce a ‘genius’.

Did you know? In 2016 Indian express shared news of a girl from Karnataka who had survived on Parle-G and cow milk up till she was 18! This reconfirmed the nutrient value of the biscuit and got the scientists questioning if it was possible for humans to survive only on biscuits.

Source: (indianexpress, Sept 2016.)

The success of the company, however, did not come without its challenges. They met their rockiest part during the period of partition when a significant part of the wheat-producing fields went to the newly formed nation of Pakistan. Moreover, during this period, the market also saw a rise in competition, especially with the brand ‘Britannia’ whose packaging was similar to that of Parle. Due to this, the sales would often get divided between the two. The crisis was handled with a lot of grace on Parle’s part, and as a result, they came up with a whole new packaging. That same packaging is how we recognize Parle-G biscuits in the present day as well.

The girl on Parle’s packaging is said to be an illustration by Everest Creatives as opposed to floating rumours of the child being an actual person. Source: parleproducts

Parle grew to become a symbol of the Swadeshi movement for the Indians. Source: tastecooking