Mumbai’s 40-year-old sandwich chain marks its milestone with the woman behind its most beloved recipe

MUMBAI: Some brands are built in boardrooms. Sandwizzaa was built in a kitchen. The Mumbai vegetarian sandwich chain, which has been feeding the city since 1986 and now runs more than 20 outlets across town, marked its 40th anniversary this Mother’s Day not with a marketing blitz but with an intimate sit-down gathering that put the spotlight firmly on Sumitra Sharma, the woman whose home-style chutney recipes became the quiet backbone of the brand’s identity.

The event, hosted in collaboration with UNIMO, a hyperlocal community platform connecting over seven lakh mothers across India, brought together inspiring mothers, creators, and influencers for an afternoon of food, conversation, and shared stories. Sumitra Sharma told guests how it all began decades ago at a humble pan shop before gradually evolving into one of Mumbai’s most recognised vegetarian quick-service restaurant chains. It was, by all accounts, the most memorable moment of the afternoon.

The gathering then moved to a tasting session featuring some of Sandwizzaa’s most iconic offerings, including the Activity Toast, Veg Cheese Grill, and Veggie Mayo sandwiches, paired with cold coffees and iced teas. For many of the mothers present, it was a rare, unhurried afternoon to slow down and be celebrated rather than do the celebrating.

Neha Kare Kanabar, founder of UNIMO, captured the spirit of the occasion. “UNIMO has always believed in creating meaningful spaces for women to connect, celebrate, and feel seen,” she said. “We’re grateful to Sandwizzaa for hosting such a warm and thoughtful Mother’s Day celebration and giving our community an opportunity to come together in such a beautiful way.”

Sumitra Sharma, visibly moved by the gathering, reflected on four decades of feeding Mumbai. “When we started many years ago, we never imagined that the recipes we made at home with so much love would become a part of so many people’s lives across Mumbai,” she said. “Every chutney, every sandwich was always made with care and honesty, and that feeling still remains the same today. I hope more women continue to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams fearlessly.”

Pankaj Sharma, director of Sandwizzaa, made no attempt to separate the brand’s commercial story from the personal one. “As Sandwizzaa completes 40 years, this celebration felt deeply personal for us because the brand’s journey has always been connected to family, warmth and my mother’s incredible resilience,” he said. “The foundation of the brand was built on the flavours, values and consistency she brought into the business from day one.”

Forty years, 20 outlets, and one enduring chutney recipe. In an era of venture-funded food-tech unicorns burning cash to capture market share, Sandwizzaa’s story is a quiet rebuke: sometimes the most durable brands are the ones built not on scale, but on something as unglamorous and unbeatable as a mother’s consistency.