To support his family financially, Musthafa began working alongside his father at the tender age of 10. After failing in class 6, he stopped attending school. Noticing this, a teacher intervened and persuaded him to resume his studies. As a result, Musthafa excelled in his studies, secured admission in top colleges and went on to establish his own business.
PC Musthafa, hailing from Wayanad in Kerala, was born into a poor family. His father worked as a daily wage labourer and struggled to make the ends meet with an income of Rs 10 per day. To support his family financially, Musthafa began working alongside his father at the tender age of 10. Due the difficult circumstances at home, he even failed in class 6. However, a teacher encouraged him to pursue his studies further. Today, Musthafa stands as the Global CEO of iD Fresh Food India Pvt Ltd, a company with a turnover of Rs 3,000 crore.
Teacher's support
After failing in class 6, PC Musthafa stopped attending school. Noticing this, a teacher intervened and persuaded him to resume his studies. The teacher learned about his family’s financial constraints and decided to provide free education to him. As a result, Musthafa excelled in his studies and secured admission in top colleges. Throughout his college years, he received continued support from his teachers.
Education from NIT and IIM
PC Musthafa was always determined to become self-reliant. To support himself financially, he utilized his savings and bought a goat and later a cow. He was able to earn some money through milk sales. He used these savings to fund his education. Remarkably, he earned a degree in Computer Science from the prestigious National Institute of Technology. After that he secured a job at Motorola, and then worked for a while in Dubai. Upon returning to India, he pursued an MBA degree from IIM Bangalore.
Launching the business
During his MBA studies, Musthafa had the idea of launching a food startup. His business model focused on providing Idli and Dosa batter as a breakfast option in South Indian households. In the year 2005, with a modest investment of Rs 50,000, along with a mixer, grinder, and a second-hand scooter, he embarked on his entrepreneurial journey. He received help from his cousins in supplying the packaged food. Gradually, the startup evolved into a renowned company known as iD Fresh Foods.
Company's turnover
In the beginning, Musthafa aimed at selling at least 100 packets of his products. However, he failed to achieve the target. Learning from the setbacks, he sold his land in Kerala and established a 550 square feet shop in Bangalore. Eventually, daily sales of 100 products began, marking a turning point in the business. Gradually, the sales surged, achieving a turnover of Rs 3,000 crore.
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