1942
Surati’s roots are traced back to Kampala, Uganda, where brothers Harilal and Maganlal Sheth founded the company. The Surati brand quickly became famous in it’s own right in East Africa, and the business expanded as one store turned into three.
1970-1980
Through the expulsion of Asians from Uganda, the Sheth family was forced to leave their home and business. As a result, Maganlal and his family eventually found their way to Canada. Maganlal soon found himself in the company of other families that shared a similar fate, many of which fondly remembered the distinctive taste of Surati. As a favour of their loyal customers, the Sheth family started to fulfill orders from their home kitchen.
1981
An overwhelming demand for Surati products led to the grand opening of Surati’s first retail location on Keele Street in Toronto, Ontario. Continuing the family tradition, the next generation of the Sheth family; brothers, Mansukh, Yash, and Haren, all took on individual roles within the company. Mansukh specialized in the production of the sweets and snacks, Yash managed all of the deliveries and assisted in introducing products into the USA, while Haren specialized in business development.
1985
Having had great success at the Keele Street location, the family found a bigger facility at 26 Carnforth Road in Toronto, Ontario. Having ample space, the company was able to establish a state-of-the-art 23,000 square foot facility that became the foundation to support its growth and transition into a leading manufacturer and distributor of Indian foods.
2004
To support its North American success, Surati partnered with a Vadodara, India manufacturing company to exclusively produce snacks for the new ‘Shalini’ brand. Soaring to new heights, this allowed the company to expand the product line and service their rapidly growing customer base.
2008
Through positive customer feedback, Surati expanded into eggless baked goods with the introduction of its Golden bakery brand. Starting with a select range of biscuits and cakes, the Surati and Golden brands now produce over 25 different products ranging from shortbread cookies to tea rusks.
2013
Ushering in a new era, the third generation of the Sheth family joined the company, taking over operations/production, marketing and sales, and finances.
2015
Following a period of success and growth, Surati realized that they had outgrown their space and found a new facility at 300 Middlefield Road in Toronto, Ontario. The custom-built 65,000 square foot facility includes a retail store, snack department, bakery, and warehouse.
2017
Continuing to expand their global presence, Surati’s baked goods began shipping to Australia and New Zealand.
Today
Currently, Surati has nearly 200 employees worldwide, one of the most experienced leadership teams in the industry, and a portfolio of 400 products which continues to grow. In addition to their 65,000 square foot facility, Surati has 4 distribution centres across the United States located in New Jersey, California, Texas and Georgia. Surati continues their commitment to providing high-quality, authentic products and outstanding customer service.