Archive · 10 Sep 2026
From Oil Mill to Neighbourhood Empire: Panna’s Behala Expansion
Panna started as a small oil mill in Behala around 1955.
Dulal Chanda Sadhukhan created it after his father died.
He named the business after his younger brother, Panna Lal Sadhukhan.
The family later opened two more oil mills.
In 1990, it began selling sweets through Panna Sweets.
Almost ten years later, it opened a restaurant called Panna’s Kitchen.
Since then, the business has added many kinds of food shops and restaurants.
The family says it wants to keep growing and serving people in Behala.
Dulal Chanda Sadhukhan founded Panna Oil Mill in Behala around 1955 after his father’s death.
The family later opened Kali Mata Oil Mill in Chowrasta and New Swapan Oil Mill in Amtala.
Panna expanded into sweets, restaurants, tea, cakes, ice cream and Bengali cuisine.
Its delivery and online services continued during Cyclone Amphan and the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic.
The family says it plans further expansion while maintaining food-safety standards across its outlets.
- Who
- The Sadhukhan family, led initially by Dulal Chanda Sadhukhan.
- What
- A family oil-mill business grew into a chain of sweets shops, restaurants, cafes and other food outlets.
- When
- The first oil mill opened around 1955; Panna Sweets began in 1990, and Panna’s Kitchen followed nearly a decade later.
- Where
- The businesses are centered in Behala, with outlets or related mills in Chowrasta and Amtala.
- Why
- The family expanded beyond oil production to build its business and remain connected to local customers.
- Founder
- Dulal Chanda Sadhukhan
- First business
- Panna Oil Mill
- Approximate founding year
- 1955
- Panna Sweets launched
- 1990
- Restaurant expansion
- Panna’s Kitchen opened nearly a decade after 1990
- Pandemic and cyclone response
- Delivery and online services continued during Cyclone Amphan and the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic
- Future plans
- The family plans further expansion, including coffee and snacks at its ice-cream centre