Dabbadrop: How A UK Startup Brought Mumbai’s Dabbawala Tradition to British Homes

A UK-based startup has taken inspiration from Mumbai’s famous dabbawalas and has employed the iconic Indian tiffin box, aka dabba, and are transporting those using a cargo bike.

The company, Dabbadrop, whose video of delivering dabbas has gone viral on social media, delivers tiffin at door step by their cyclist within 30 minutes, a report by Mashable India said.

Their clip has also garnered reactions from industrialists like Anand Mahindra. “No better—or more ‘delicious’—evidence of reverse colonization!” Mahindra had said earlier this year when Dabbadrop became an internet sensation.

Founded by Renee Williams and Anshu Ahuja in 2018, Dabbadrop now proudly claims that they have prevented the usage of over 375,660 plastic takeaway containers and wish that they will soon expand their service to the rest of the UK.

Their menu is not limited to Indian food, they also serve items like Jackfruit Kottu Roti, a famous dish from Sri Lanka, a report by Homegrown said. They have collaborated with Hanoi Cà Phê and offer Vietnamese dishes like Nôm salad, vegan pork lettuce wraps, and a creamy Cà Ri Chay curry as well. They also serve Japanese dishes like Yaki Nasu and Greens Goma-Shoga.

They regularly serve Goan delights like Baby Aubergine Recheado with Portuguese spices and their Punjabi platter contains items like Aloo Gobi, Saag and Pindi Chhole.

They also cater to the British Pakistanis living in London offering Dal Bukhara, Cashew Qorma and Sabzi with Jeera rice.

“We’ve been in operation for almost SIX years now! How time flies. So far we’ve saved over 375,660 plastic takeaway containers from being used and we’ve only just begun!! Somewhere in the not so distant future we hope to go NATIONWIDE – spreading DabbaDrop love across the UK,” the company said in one of its Instagram posts.