Long before the advent of food delivery apps, Mumbai’s dabbawalas had perfected a remarkably efficient food delivery system, serving thousands of office workers daily. Drawing inspiration from this renowned service, a London-based company ‘DabbaDrop’ founded by Anshu Ahuja and Renee Williams has launched a thriving business model. They deliver freshly prepared home-cooked meals in tiffin boxes, emphasizing sustainability by eliminating single-use cutlery and packaging, akin to the dabba system.
A user on X shared a video, commenting, “Foreigners copied our dabbawala Tiffin idea and launched their own Startup Dabba drop.” The post sparked a debate, with many arguing that the English company was a commendable homage to Mumbai’s dabbawalas.
Foreigners copied our dabba wala Tiffin idea and launched their own Startup Dabba drop pic.twitter.com/L4ydU6Htvh
— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) July 16, 2024
Founded in 2018, DabbaDrop has grown to a valuation of £2.7 million. Specializing in Southeast Asian cuisines, the food delivery company prices each meal at £30 (approximately Rs 3,000), with one tiffin box containing enough food for two servings that can last up to two days. Operating on a pre-order basis, they prepare meals strictly based on the number of orders received, effectively minimizing food waste.
