What Happens When the Next Generation Brings a New Mindset? | Ameya Chandak | Daga Brothers

What happens when the third generation steps into a family business with a completely different perspective? In this episode of The Inheritor’s Club, we speak with Ameya Chandak of Daga Brothers about his journey of returning from abroad and finding his place in a family business. Ameya shares how he looked at the business with fresh eyes, introduced new products, and explored ways to repackage existing products to create new opportunities for growth. But one of the biggest changes he brought was around something less visible organisational culture. He explains why culture starts with the owner, how employees begin to follow when they see change being practised from the top, and how those changes can influence the way an organisation works. From stepping into an established family business to questioning existing ways of working and building a stronger culture, Ameya’s journey offers an honest look at what it means to carry forward a legacy while still trying to make it your own. In this episode: • Returning to the family business from abroad • The experience of being a third-generation entrepreneur • Repackaging products and introducing new products • Building organisational culture • Why change has to start with the owner • How leadership behaviour influences employees • Finding your own way within a family legacy 00:00 - Teaser & Episode Highlights 01:12 - Introduction 02:00 - The History & Evolution of Daga Brothers (From 1959 to Dry Fruits) 04:03 - How Prem’s Father Entered the Family Business 05:23 - Prem’s Childhood, Schooling & Health Struggles 07:42 - Initial Career Ambitions: Exploring the Fitness Industry 08:38 - Juggling Work as a Gym Trainer & Helping at the Store 09:17 - Why Prem Decided to Transition to the Family Business 11:00 - Learning Business Fundamentals by Observing the Shop Floor 13:04 - Starting from the Counter: Gaining Experience Ground Up 14:34 - Father-Son Dynamic & Handling Generational Differences 16:50 - Key Core Values: Uncompromising Quality and Customer Service 17:42 - Building Company Culture and Rules for a Growing Team 20:04 - Key Moments: Opening New Outlets & Expanding 20:41 - Life in London: Studying Retail Management & Interning at Primark 22:03 - Implementing Modern Retail & E-commerce Operations in 2010 23:03 - Upgrading Systems: Barcoding, Pre-Packaging, and Billing 25:30 - Lessons Learned from Retail Experience in the UK 29:30 - Overcoming Initial Failures: E-commerce Website & Billing Resistance 33:04 - Readiness to Scale: Expanding to the Second Branch & Delegation 34:26 - Vision for Daga Brothers: Expanding Beyond Pune 35:00 - Employee Development, Weekly Team Meetings & Communication 36:10 - Rebranding, New Packaging, and Launching In-House Products 37:20 - Entering the Healthy Snacks Market: Protein Bars & Granola 39:12 - Family Support: The Crucial Role of Women in the Business 40:55 - Prem’s Role Models: Parents & Dedicated Employees 43:30 - Traits Inherited from Family: Observation Skills, Patience & Leadership 45:20 - Reflection on Joining Early & What He Would Do Differently 46:45 - Fostering Workplace Culture: Celebrating Birthdays & Employee Milestones 47:28 - The Value of Employee Recognition & Non-Monetary Appreciation 48:58 - Key People Behind the Decades-Long Success of Daga Brothers 52:35 - Advice for Successors Joining Family Businesses 54:48 - Rapid-Fire 55:47 - Dealing with the Pressure of Carrying Forward a Legacy 57:05 - Quick Preferences: The Inheritor’s Club | Legacy Reinvented Real stories. Honest conversations. The people behind family businesses.