The Minbury Story — How Three Young Guwahati Entrepreneurs Are Rebuilding the Way Assam Eats
Every business starts with a problem that someone finds impossible to ignore. For Javed Laskar, Dhrubajyoti Kakoti, and Hrishikesh Kalita — three young men from Guwahati who founded Minbury in 2021 — the problem was one they had grown up with and could no longer accept: buying fresh fish and meat in Assam was needlessly difficult, unhygienic, and chaotic.
The Problem They Saw
Traditional fish and meat markets in Guwahati are a morning ritual for millions of families. At 6 AM, the markets are full — buyers crowding around stalls, negotiating prices, selecting pieces from open displays while the city wakes around them. For generations, this was simply how it worked.
But the three founders saw the friction clearly. The hygiene was inconsistent — fish and meat displayed without refrigeration in humid conditions. The quality was opaque — buyers had no way to know how old the stock was or where it came from. The experience was fragmented — different markets for fish, chicken, and mutton, each with their own unpredictable hours and availability. And for working professionals, young families, and anyone without a local market within easy reach, the entire process was a barrier to eating fresh, quality protein at home. They believed there was a better way.
Building Assam’s First Non-Veg Supermarket
Minbury launched in 2021 as what the founders describe as Assam’s first one-stop retail store for non-vegetarian proteins. The idea was straightforward: bring everything — fresh fish, chicken, mutton, duck, seafood, and eggs — under one roof, with consistent quality, transparent sourcing, and professional hygiene standards. The first outlet opened in Guwahati, and the response validated the concept immediately. Within years, Minbury had expanded to 11 outlets across the city, with locations in Beltola, VIP Road, Panjabari, Jyotikuchi, Birubari, Basistha Chariali, and Sawkuchi.
The Technology Behind the Freshness
What sets Minbury apart from a traditional meat shop is not just the branding or the convenience — it is the supply chain. Fish are delivered to Minbury’s warehouse every morning from local fisheries, where they are kept alive in large tanks equipped with a Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS). RAS technology continuously filters and recirculates water, removing waste and maintaining ideal conditions for live fish. This means the fish you order from Minbury is not just fresh — it was alive hours before it arrived at your door.
Every fish and meat product is cleaned in RO (reverse osmosis) water, professionally cut by trained staff, and vacuum-packed in food-grade bags to preserve freshness during delivery. The cold chain from processing to doorstep is maintained throughout.
Supporting Local Assam
The Minbury model is not just about consumer convenience — it is also about the ecosystem. The company sources directly from local fish farmers, small-scale fishermen along the Brahmaputra and its tributaries, and poultry breeders in and around Guwahati. By cutting out middlemen and paying fair prices directly to producers, Minbury ensures that local farmers earn better while customers receive fresher product at competitive prices. This direct sourcing model also means complete traceability. Minbury knows exactly where each fish came from, when it was caught, and how it was handled — a level of transparency that traditional markets simply cannot offer.
The Vision
D2C Across Northeast India: The founders’ ambition extends beyond retail delivery. Minbury is working toward launching its own aquaculture operations — a Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) model where fish move from Minbury’s own farms to the customer’s kitchen with zero intermediary steps. This would make Minbury one of the very few vertically integrated fresh seafood brands in Northeast India.
The next phase of expansion includes new city launches across Assam and the broader Northeast, as the team works to bring the same standard of fresh, hygienic, accessible non-veg protein to households across the region.
Why It Matters
In a country where cold chain infrastructure is still developing and food safety in informal markets is inconsistent, what Minbury is building matters beyond its immediate customer base. Every outlet opened, every local fisherman paid fairly, and every vacuum-packed delivery of truly fresh fish represents a small but real improvement in how Assam eats. The founders started with a problem they could not ignore. They are building a solution that a whole region did not know it needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the founders of Minbury?
Minbury was founded in 2021 by Javed Laskar, Dhrubajyoti Kakoti, and Hrishikesh Kalita with a mission to bring premium, hygienic non-veg cuts to Guwahati. Learn about our about page and mission.
How does Minbury support local fish farmers in Assam?
Minbury sources directly from independent Brahmaputra fishermen and local sustainable farms, ensuring complete traceability and fair pricing. Shop locally sourced Assamese fish today.
When was Minbury established and where are its stores located?
Minbury was established in 2021 in Guwahati, Assam, expanding to 11 premium retail stores including Beltola, VIP Road, Basistha, and Sawkuchi.
What makes Minbury different from traditional local fish markets?
Unlike local open-air stalls, Minbury keeps freshwater fish alive in biological RAS tanks, cleans products in RO water, and vacuum-seals cuts for superior hygiene.
All local fish, premium meats, duck, and farm fresh eggs are sourced clean at 4 AM and delivered to your doorstep within 60 minutes.