Sri. B. Raghuramaiah was a highly professional industrialist who founded ad established a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for food and beverage flavours in Chennai. This premier food flavours company known as “Food Ingredient Specialities Pvt. Ltd., Chennai came into existence in 1990.
Born in the coastal city, Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh, Sri. Raghuramaiah had a brilliant academic career with a B.Sc., degree in Agricultural Science from the renowned Andhra Pradesh Agricultural university in 1966 and the Master’s degree in Food Technology from the International Food Technology Training Centre, Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore. Prior to establishing his own company of food flavours, Sri. Raghuramaiah had a distinguished professional career with reputed companies like Metal Box Company, India, renowned research organizations like CFTRI and a reputed flavour manufacturing company – Robin Chemicals. Sri. Raghuramaiah’s deep commitment to high standards of honesty, integrity and uncompromising concern for high quality standards have contributed towards the accelerated growth and development of the company. He has authored and published research and popular articles in journals of Food Technology and delivered several invited lectures at various Seminars and Industry Conferences.
Sri. Raghuramaiah was highly recognized for his outstanding contributions to the food processing industry. He was awarded the highly coveted Dr. V. Subrahmanyan Industrial Achievement Award of the Association of Food Scientists and Technologists, India. He was also the recipient of several awards and recognitions that include the prestigious K.U. Patel Award of the All-India Food Processors Association, Fellow of the British Society of Flavourists, Fellow of AFSTI and Prof M S Swaminathan Outstanding CFTRI Alumnus Award. Sri. Raghuramaiah was a Professional Member of the Institute of Food Technologists, USA.
Sri. Raghuramaiah was an ardent supporter of corporate social responsibility and generously contributed to the cause of Food Technology education in India by way of studentships and scholarships to deserving students at the CSIR–CFTRI and other institutions. Sri Raghuramaiah greatly contributed towards the advancement of professional organizations like the Association of Food Scientists and Technologists India by way generous financial support from time to time. He was closely associated with the Association of Food Scientists and Technologists India – as Founder Secretary of the Hyderabad Chapter, Secretary and Vice President of the Chennai chapter and as the National President of AFSTI. During his tenure as the President of AFSTI, he relentlessly worked towards harmonization of Indian food safety regulations with the global regulations as well as ensure the rightful place for the Indian food flavour and colour ingredients in the regulations.
Recognizing the contributions of Sri. Raghuramaiah to the progressive growth of Indian food industry and one of the well wishers and strengths of the Association of Food Scientists and Technologists, India, it is very befitting on the part of AFST(I) to remember this distinguished personality in organizing annually, the “Sri B. Raghuramaiah Memorial Lecture”.