LUCKNOW/BAREILLY: Prominent industrialist and business tycoon S N Ladhani, whose family interests are diversified across bottling, hospitality, packaging, renewable energy and aviation with leading operations of soft drinks major coca Cola bottling, passed away at his residence in Uttar Pradesh this Sunday.
The Ladhani family members gathered in Bareily for a four-day mourning, with a prayer meeting held at Grand Nirvana Hotel.
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The prayer meeting saw attendance and solidarity notes sent from across UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, actors Suniel Shetty, Jackie Shroff and music composer Anu Malik.
Former civil aviation minister Shahnawaz Hussain and Oberoi group chairman Arjun Oberoi were also present.
SLMG Beverages has been India’s largest bottler for Coca Cola with plants spread aross UP, Uttarakhand, MP and the upcoming biggest facility in Buxar in Bihar.
Speaking on the bereavement of the founder, Lucknow-based director Rakesh Ladhani said,” It’s personal loss for the family. He taught us entrepreneurial goals and objectives. From leading Air Deccan once to helping each one of the family member grow footprint of Coca Cola in 1980s and 90s from Ayodhya to Haridwar, Bhopal to Gwalior, Agra to Bihar, our businesses expansion was always with his vision,”.
SLMG employs more than 13,000 people and generated ancilliary employment for several thousand sin the supply-chain segment.
“The first Coca Cola bottle was produced by us when the company returned in 1992 at our Agra plant under his vision,” recalled Narendra, an employee who worked at this plant under Ladhani.
The SLMG group, that is bringing a Taj portfolio hotel in Ayodhya, and Oberoi group hotel in Rishikesh, has also invested in renewable and green energy projects.
Ladhani family had initially migrated from Sindh in Pakistan before migrating to Ayodhya and settling there.
