If food is a bridge that connects people from different cultures, then surely Subramanian Krishnan, founder of Shastha Foods, is that extraordinary inter-cultural bridge builder. Through his tried and tested idlis and dosas sourced from the finest and healthiest grains and lentils, he is creating communities where cultural divides cease to exist.

Food tells a story about geography and generations. Dosas and idlis, although extremely common in India especially in southern India, were still a delicacy in the US before Shastha Batters entered the Bay Area market more than 20 years ago. It was not easy to prepare them at home from scratch since this was time consuming and required a lot of skill. The demand was huge and it has sustained that growth till today.

While Shastha Foods may be a household name for those in the Bay Area, not much is known about the humble and philanthropic entrepreneur behind this successful venture. Subramanian Krishnan saw the need for food that brings comfort and nostalgia to Indians living in the Bay Area, as well as a taste of South Indian cuisine to everyone. He has created an affordable brand of dosa and idli batter that speaks to quality and reliability. He envisions dosas becoming a household name in the US and to that end he has succeeded in introducing his dosa batter to the multi billion dollar global retail chain – Costco.

Subramanian Krishnan has not forgotten his roots nor the challenges along the way and gives back to the community that supported him. He donates generously to several dozen causes and charities close to his heart. Among them are Community Seva, which feeds the hungry in the Bay Area; One School at a Time, which seeks to improve public schools in Uganda; India Literacy Project, an India-based literacy program; Cancer Institute Foundation, focused on the cause, prevention and treatment of cancers common in India; Sankara Eye Foundation, which seeks to eradicate curable blindness in India; Sankara Nethralaya, an eye-care hospital in Chennai, India; Inclusive World, a San Jose-based nonprofit that develops skills and abilities of differently abled individuals; Maitri, a Bay Area nonprofit that helps abuse survivors from South Asia; and Akshaya Patra Foundation, a non-governmental organization in India striving to end classroom hunger.