Salad Days

High-Level Overview

Salad Days is a food delivery company founded in 2014 (or late 2013 per some records) that specializes in handcrafted, premium salads and all-natural juices, primarily operating as a delivery-only chain in India.[1][2][3] It serves health-conscious consumers in cities like Gurgaon, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, and Mumbai, addressing the lack of affordable, fresh, on-the-go healthy meals in the Indian market by using homegrown ingredients for nutritious, tasty salads at reasonable prices.[1][3] With around 50-154 employees and annual revenue of $5.4-5.8 million as of 2025, the company focuses on quality over scale, aiming to normalize healthy eating without expanding into other food categories.[1][2][3]

Origin Story

Salad Days was co-founded in February 2014 by Varun Madan (current CEO) and Kunal Gangwani, inspired by their travels in Europe where they encountered fresh, customizable salads.[1][2] Recognizing a market gap in India—where healthy, wholesome fast food was scarce due to supply and demand issues—the duo launched the business in Gurgaon to offer premium, handcrafted salads made with fresh, local ingredients.[1] Early steps included securing the domain www.saladdays.co and an SSL certificate from GoDaddy to enable secure online ordering, which helped establish their digital presence and supported initial traction in fulfilling their mission.[1]

Core Differentiators

• Product Focus and Freshness: Exclusively offers salads and natural juices, emphasizing handcrafted preparation with the best homegrown, pesticide-free ingredients for healthy, filling, and tasty meals—avoiding diversification to excel in one niche.[1][3]
• Affordability and Accessibility: Delivery-only model provides premium-quality salads at reasonable prices, targeting busy urban consumers seeking quick, nutritious options in an underserved market.[1][2]
• Operational Excellence: "Do less, but do it extremely well" philosophy drives decisions, from ingredient sourcing to tech integrations like secure e-commerce, positioning it against competitors like Sweetgreen or Freshii.[1][2]
• Scalability in India: Expanded from Gurgaon to Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, and Mumbai, building a network for consistent delivery of fresh meals.[3]

(Note: A separate U.S.-based Salad Days Produce grows hydroponic lettuce but is unrelated to this Indian tech-enabled food company.[4])

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Salad Days rides the wave of India's growing demand for healthy eating and digital food delivery, fueled by urbanization, rising health awareness post-pandemic, and platforms enabling seamless online ordering.[1] Timing aligns with the boom in quick-commerce and meal delivery services in tier-1 cities, where traditional diets are shifting toward convenient, nutritious options amid supply chain improvements for fresh produce.[1][2][3] Market forces like increasing disposable incomes and apps for healthy food discovery favor its model, influencing the ecosystem by popularizing salad culture in a carb-heavy cuisine landscape and competing with global chains to elevate local standards.[2]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Salad Days is poised for sustained growth in India's health-food sector, potentially expanding delivery footprints or partnerships with grocery chains as consumer preferences solidify around wellness.[2][3] Trends like AI-driven personalization in meal kits and sustainable sourcing will shape its path, enhancing efficiency in a competitive delivery market. Its influence may evolve from niche pioneer to a benchmark for focused, tech-savvy food brands, reinforcing the mission to make salads a daily staple in Indian lifestyles.[1]