Bengaluru startup Liki Foods reinvents dairy-free desserts

July 17, 2025 Start Up Valli Sarvani

India’s love for ice cream meets ancient grains in a fresh, guilt-free twist.

Bengaluru-based Liki Foods is turning traditional millets into creamy, dairy-free desserts that delight health-conscious consumers.

Founded by engineer-turned-entrepreneur Gautam Raikar, the startup offers millet-based ice creams, smoothies, shakes, and frappes.

The idea emerged during the COVID-19 lockdown, when Raikar was already experimenting with millet cookies and rusks.

By 2021, he began serious R&D on millet ice creams. He tested grains like sorghum, foxtail, pearl, and finger millet, blending them with fruits and chocolate.

After over two years and many failed batches, some fed to cows, he finally got the texture right. The key lies in using almond and cashew milk, with just 5–12% sugar.

Since June 2023, Liki Foods has scaled up. It now earns about ₹2 lakh monthly revenue and produces 35,000–50,000 litres per month.

During the summers, demand pushes production up to 45,000 litres/month.

Initially, operations ran from a small outlet in Malleshwaram. Now, they operate from a 2,500-sq-ft unit in Yelachenahalli, with FSSAI and trade licenses in place.

Liki Foods retails 12 ice cream flavours (from 100 ml to 4 L), along with cookies, shakes, sandwiches, and coffee drinks.

Products are available at their outlet, through three partner stores, office canteens, and online platforms like Swiggy and Zomato.

Raikar sources millets from local farmer groups. He processes them in-house, washing, milling, and filtering, to make rich millet milk.

He even built custom machines to filter and freeze, ensuring smooth texture without any preservatives or artificial colours.

Liki’s desserts use real fruit pulp, nuts, and natural stabilisers. New flavours like raw mango and jackfruit, and even a millet-based cone, are in the pipeline.

Beyond food, the startup impacts lives. Team member Roshal shared how many employees now lead healthier, hopeful lives after adopting millets.

Liki Foods proves innovation can revive Indian staples. It gives customers delicious, dairy-free treats while supporting farmers and transforming lives.

Image Credit: Likifoods Website Screenshot