The Empire of Taste: The Inspiring Journey of Malayali Visionary Moidunni Bava

India, November 01, 2025: Every great success starts with a simple idea. For Moidunni Bava, Chairman and Founder of Nellara Food Products and RF Combine it was the idea of “home.” He saw the longing in the Malayali community abroad – a nostalgia that could be tasted. He believed that the aroma of a home-cooked meal could bridge the distance between expatriates and their homeland. With this vision, he laid the foundation of his empire 42 years ago – starting with a single, humble flour mill. It was here that his first brand, Rose Flower, was born.

But Bava didn’t stop there. Fueled by hard work and unshakable determination, he transformed that small mill into a multinational enterprise. Today, his organization, RF Combine, stands as a household name across the Gulf and beyond, reaching over 20 countries. Through flagship brands like Nellara, Malhar, and Nells Café, Moidunni Bava didn’t just sell food; he delivered the comfort of home to kitchens around the world.

A Dream from Kerala that Took Root in the UAE

Moidunni Bava came from a farming family in Kerala, so he understood the land, and he carried one simple truth with him: a good harvest always starts with a quality seed. This lesson became his guiding philosophy in business.

When he arrived in the UAE 42 years ago, he noticed a deep yearning among fellow expatriates for the familiar tastes of home. This observation sparked his purpose. He set a simple, powerful goal: to provide his community with the highest quality food.

His entrepreneurial journey began in 1984 with the purchase of a flour mill. The early days demanded pure hard work, and he worked tirelessly, personally carrying the freshly ground flour on his head to deliver it to shops and homes.

His relentless dedication to quality and his natural skill in business quickly earned him the deep trust of his customers. This trust was the first solid step on the path to building his successful company.

Brands Built on Trust

The trust he earned from his first venture gave Moidunni Bava the courage to dream even bigger. He wanted to build more than just a mill; he envisioned a complete family of businesses that could serve his community in many different ways.

This vision led him to create the parent company, ‘RF Combine’. Today, that company is strong and holds several brands that touch people’s lives every day.

• Nellara: The soul of the Kerala kitchen, this flagship brand offers a range of products, from breakfast staples to masalas and Ready-To-Cook (RTC) options.
• Malhar: Focuses on bringing the authentic flavour and variety of North Indian cuisine to the Gulf market.
• Nells Café & Nells Restaurant provide spaces with a modern presentation of traditional tastes, offering an excellent ambiance for people to gather and enjoy.
• RF Distribution: An extensive network that transports its own products and others across borders to reach millions of consumers.
• Filfilmarket.com: An innovative e-commerce venture that adapted to the changing times, making products available at the customers’ fingertips in the digital world.

A Leader Who Believed in His Team

As the Founder and Chairman of Nellara and RF Combine,  Moidunni Bava knew that building a company meant building a team. He deeply valued the people who stood by him as his business grew. He never forgot their loyalty, rewarding them with better opportunities and trusting them with important responsibilities. This philosophy shaped the company, making it feel more like a family than a corporation.

Even today, he approaches his work with the same boundless energy and passion he had decades ago. A core reason for his success is his unwavering belief in his associates.

This journey of shared success began with his earliest partnerships. Abdulla was there from the very start, supporting Moidunni Bava’s dreams. Later, Shamsudeen Karimbanakkal and his son, Fazalu Rahman, joined, bringing renewed energy to the mission. Moidunni Bava’s decision to unite this team was the foundation of their collective success. To this day, each of them continues to beautifully carry out the duties he entrusted to them.

The Victory of a Lifelong Vision

Moidunni Bava’s life offers a powerful lesson: there are no shortcuts to building something that endures. He proved that only an enterprise founded on hard work and integrity can truly stand the test of time.

This is the legacy we see today in the RF Combine Group. After 42 years, the company’s success and its famous brands are a living testament to his personal journey. His relentless hard work was the engine that fueled the company’s rise to its current stature.

This growth, from the local rice fields of Kerala to a global brand found in over 20 countries, is not just a story of business success. It is the victory of a vision, one that was always deeply rooted in unwavering values.