Story Of Deep Foods: Humble Beginnings

From a Deep-Fryer in a Garage to an Indian Food Empire

STEPPING through the hand-carved marble arches in Arvind and Bhagwati Amin’s home in Bernardsville, N.J., is like being transported to a palace in their native India. The Amins have a suite on the main floor. Their sons, Deepak, 36, and Archit, 37, and their families occupy separate wings of the house. Each day, everyone gathers to pray together in the family’s Hindu temple.

The luxuries they enjoy have their roots in a humble food: Hot Mix, a spicy Indian trail mix of fried noodles made from chickpea flour and tossed with cashews, pistachios and spices. It was the first item produced by the family business, Deep Foods, which Arvind Amin, 61, laughingly calls ”the Frito-Lay, H