In this AAHAR Bengaluru special, we check out some of the established brands in the masala market and find out what they are doing to add spice to their business
Gajanand Foods
To invent and innovate, to experiment and expand and to move ahead from strength to strength – are the ethos, which drive the Gajanand Foods family. Manish Majithia, brand manager, Gajanand Foods says their vision is not about what they plan to do, rather it encompasses what they are doing at present and how that will shape the future
Natvarbhai Patel, a small shop owner in a village named Chandanki in North Gujarat, thought of giving his customers products made by himself only so that he can be sure of purity. He began with grinding chilli, turmeric and coriander-cumin and selling them nearby. His firmness on giving pure products was recognised well by customers and soon he needed an organised manufacturing facility with a larger base. In 1982, a self-contained factory was mooted at Rannapark in Ahmedabad to cater to the increasing demand from across the Gujarat market.
For three decades, pursuing the principle of giving pure and quality products, Gajanand Foods soon emerged as a well-known brand with around 300 distributors satisfying the need of retailers across Gujarat. The business has grown several folds. “Soon our company recognised the need to bring in ready to prepare (instant mix) products, as more and more housewives were looking to cut down their time in the kitchen, as well as to offer variety in their dishes. Instant mix range was started in 1990 and soon captured the taste of customers,” states Manish Majithia, brand manager, Gajanand Foods.
This increase in the spectrum and the volume of business with expansion in newer markets, called for a larger scale production to meet the ever-growing demand. Large production with a commitment to quality necessitated for a bigger and modern automatic plant adhering to international standards. The new plant at Santej, near Ahmedabad, epitomises Gajanand Foods’ commitment of giving quality products to millions of its trusted customers. “Striving to attain the goal dreamt by the founder, his successors Jayesh Patel and Samir Patel, took every endeavour in ensuring and maintaining the quality of Gajanand products. The mission was laid as to create a satisfied and loyal customer in every kitchen across the land and make them Gajanand’s brand ambassadors,” mentions Majithia. As the mission continued, Gajanand Foods obtained the coveted AGMARK, FSSAI for its products and ISO 22000:2005 standard certification for its ultra-modern plant at Santej.
Product range
In the basic product range, the company offers powders like chilli, turmeric, coriander-cumin and coriander. These are available in packs of 50 gms, 100 gms, 200 gms, 500 gms, 1000 gms as well as in PET jar of 500 gms. The company has introduced several instant products, which do not require any special attention, and enough time for preparation. The Gajanand Instant Food range includes: Gota, Khaman, Idli, Gulab Jamun, Dahi Wada, Dalwada, Dhokla, and Dosa. These are available in packs of 200 gms and 400 gms. In the blended spices – they offer Garam Masala, Tea Masala, Achar Masala, Pav Bhaji Masala, and Asafoetida. Chicken and Mutton Masala are available in packs costing Rs three and Rs five.
Future business
Gajanand Foods has been making new products as per the requirement of the market. “To launch a product successfully we plan with proper POPs and advertisement budgets. We are at present preparing our expansion plan for pan India and also for the international market. We are now ready with a huge production capacity at our new plant at Santej to meet the requirement of the whole national as well as the international market with the required hygiene, quality and variety of taste. Different people have different taste preference and we have a huge range of spices to satisfy the taste of every region which can be justified by our tagline ‘Hath Badle, Swad Nahin’,” concludes Majithia.
(As told to Kahini Chakraborty)
Nilon’s Enterprises
Since 1962, Nilon’s Enterprises has been continuously providing products with quality, nutritious values and a mouth-watering taste keeping in mind the regional preferences of its Indian customers
Nilon’s Enterprises was founded by Suresh B Sanghavi in 1962. The company began as a cottage industry that made pickles and later diversified to a wide range of spices, instant mixes, pastas, noodles, Chinese sauces, cooking pastes, and several other products. From a humble beginning, Nilon’s has now grown to become one of the largest producers of pickles, tooty-fruity and roasted vermicelli, one of the leading food companies and among the fastest growing processed food suppliers in India. Nilon’s is managed by a professional and dynamic team led by Rajheev Agrawal, director and CEO, Nilon’s and Dipak Sanghavi, managing director, Nilon’s.
An ISO 9001:2000 certified company, Nilon’s is a quality driven, customer centric and a responsive organisation. To ensure that the very best quality reaches the consumers, state-of-the-art microbial and quality control labs have been setup in its manufacturing facilities. Nilon’s has its manufacturing plants in Maharashtra and Assam and every product reaches the consumer only after passing through stringent quality checks. More manufacturing facilities are being planned in south and north India to serve its customers more regionally with suitable food products. The company’s tagline – ‘Zubaan se dil mey utar jaaye’, meaning ‘the way to the heart is through the stomach,’ aptly describes the focus of the company which has been to provide products with quality, nutritious values and a mouth-watering taste keeping in mind the regional preferences of its Indian customers.
Spice promotion
Spice is an essential in any kitchen and this category consumption is exceptionally high in India. Nilon’s entered the spice category in 2012 by exploiting its expertise in selecting the best raw materials and making unique spice mixes for its pickle range. With a trustworthy network of 57 C&FAs and 3600 distributors across the country, Nilon’s has created a niche for itself in a market dominated by many established players. The placement was backed by a large scale promotional campaign wherein the Nilon’s team was standing daily at 50 outlets across 10 cities to let consumers taste the new spices and many other products.
Each blend of Nilon’s spice is a unique combination of carefully selected, roasted and grinded spices that adds a distinct taste to each recipe. For the spices launch, Nilon’s adopted the positioning of ‘Fun and Experimenting with Food’. Under this, there is no fixed recipe as Nilon’s shares fun ways to mix and match the spice blends with different recipes through active social media campaigns. For instance, a biryani masala, bhindi and pav bhaji masala can add a different flavour.
Future business
Nilon’s lays emphasis on health and convenience values in all its products. The company carries forth the vision to become a Rs 800 crore company in the convenience food segment in the next five years by selling products with superior taste and quality to its consumers. The company continuously innovates to cater to the changing taste preferences of consumers in the high growth potential and large size categories. A well-qualified team is in place to monitor the demands of the market on a daily basis.
This real-time information helps serve the emerging and urgent market needs, be it the need of a promotion, a modification in the recipe of an existing product or launching a product extension.
(As told to Rituparna Chatterjee)
DevBhumi
DevBhumi Natural Products Producer Company is a community owned organisation that engages mostly women in remote villages of Uttarakhand Himalayas to produce organic spices and other products
DevBhumi Natural Products Producer Company (DNPPCL) was established with a vision to create ‘conservation through enterprise’. The organisation works towards this goal by actively promoting its core activities in approximately 600 remote hill villages in five districts of Uttarakhand, namely Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Tehri, Uttarkashi and Pauri Garhwal. “The company is involved in the production, processing and marketing of the farmer’s produce. It is a community owned producer company consisting of 8561 primary producers who are shareholders and are involved in the commercial cultivation of organic spices, organic honey, sericulture and natural dyes,” says Amrish Khurana, chief general manager, DNPPCL.
Khurana mentions that the pioneering efforts made by the company in developing infrastructure in all these areas has enabled the primary producers to actively move up the value chains. “The producers who are mostly women from remote villages of Uttarkhand Himalayas, are now able to get better price for their produce due to innovation such as establishing primary processing facilities for organic spices, organic honey production and setting up the facilities in sericulture sector.” The brand promotion efforts of DNPPCL have also connected rural production to mainstream markets. The innovations by DNPPCL in livelihoods sectors have built the capacity of the primary producers in value addition, improved processing, sorting grading and hygienic storage and transportation.
For spices, the company has two different marketing approach – for bulk buyers and retail segments. Khurana explains, “Though priority is to sell our spices in the retail packaging to help build DevBhumi as a brand for certified organic spices from the Himalayas, but since it’s a long term process, we also sell our spices in bulk to buyers who are looking for certified organic spices from this region.” For retail their main focus is the metros and Tier II cities. “With the emergence of the middle class in the major cities and their increased purchasing power, there is a growing demand for chemical, pesticides free good quality organic food products. We know that we have to be consistent with the quality and also keep an attractive and user friendly packaging with their products to tap these markets,” he added.
Organic products
All DevBhumi organic products are produced and processed under strictly hygienic conditions in the pollution free environment of Garhwal. Khurana points out that the Himalayan valleys make these spices full of vibrant colour, flavour and aroma. Phytosanitary parameters of DevBhumi spices are tested by SGS Laboratories for organic certification. “All products are cleaned, graded, and available in packages of (100gms, 200gms) and also in bulk form. Unlike many other organic products on the market, DevBhumi products are all certified organic and are traceable to the producer,” he states.
Future plans
In the future, the company is looking to extend its market reach from northern India to west and south India as well. “We are already attracting lot of attention from the exporters as well as buyers, mostly from Europe and the US, not only for spices but for honey and silk as well, so we are still exploring our options for foreign markets,” says Khurana.
In Uttarkhand, DevBhumi is now extending its presence in the other districts as well. It is working closely with farmers in places like Jaunsar and Jaunpur.
There is an underlying spirit of social consciousness in all the efforts, despite the fact that the key objective of DevBhumi as a company is to make profits. “We always prefer quality over quantity, be it our products or professional staff. With the support and hardwork of all our producers, guidance from our advisory board which consist some of the talented names in marketing, rural development, and business management, and dedication of the professional staff working in the marketing, finance management process in the company ensures that we are moving towards a bright future,” says Khurana with pride.
(As told to Sudipta Dev)
Aashirvaad
Aashirvaad believes in offering only the best to its consumers. This is reflected in the sourcing process of the ingredients, their selection, manufacturing process, packaging and finally the distribution of the final product
ITC forayed into the branded spices market with the launch of Aashirvaad Spices in May 2005. The products presently consists of chilli, turmeric and coriander powder in SKUs of 50 gms, 100 gms, 200 gms and 500 gms each. Aashirvaad Spices, operating in selected markets of south and east, has spread over the years to a large consumer base and has emerged as a major player in basic spices in most regional markets.
At Aashirvaad, there has been a constant endeavour to make sure that its product ingredients are carefully nurtured and processed. The company promises to deliver quality products by sourcing them directly from farmers through the e-choupal initiative. And from these, it chooses only the purest of spices. Aashirvaad maintains the highest standards of food safety and hygiene and implements world class hygiene standards across all its manufacturing units. The commitment to internationally benchmarked quality standards has enabled Aashirvaad to rapidly gain market standing across all its five product categories – atta, salt, spices, instant mixes and ready meals.
ITC Foods also aims to delight the consumer through superior and innovative packaging. The Aashirvaad package is PET Poly, with the design showcasing the farming process undertaken in the rural heartland of India in the form of a Madhubani painting.
Product range
In March 2008, Aashirvaad added a unique variant to its spices range with the launch of Pickle Mirch Powder in Andhra Pradesh, a state known for its variety of spicy pickles. The Pickle Mirch Powder uses the finest of warangal bamboo chillies, which are sourced directly from the farmers and are selected by experts to ensure the right aroma, pungency and colour. Recently, Aashirvaad Sambar and Rasam Powder variants have been added to the portfolio. The familiar taste of sambar and rasam, made the traditional way, holds a special place in every Tamilian’s heart. Aashirvaad Sambar and Rasam Powders recreate the authentic taste, with handpicked ingredients, roasted and ground the traditional way. These products have been launched in Tamil Nadu presently.
Aroma Spices Industry
Aroma Spices Industry is one of the leading wholesale manufacturers and exporters of a wide spectrum of spices, blended spices and allied products in India. The company specialises in delivering tailor-made spice mixes as per its customer requirements
Over a decade ago in 2001, Tulsian Foods was started by Om Prakash Tulsian along with his son Amit Tulsian in SIDCO Industrial Estate, Chennai. The company ventured into the field of powdered spices with a manufacturing capacity of 10 tonnes/day. The company soon started another unit named Aroma Spices Industry in 2009 with a manufacturing capacity of 15 tonnes/ day. With over a decade of presence in the spices industry and a monthly production capacity of 750 tonnes, the company has restructured its business carefully with innovative techniques and technologies. The company observes top quality standards and hygiene during the manufacturing and packing of its products. It sources its raw materials directly from the farms and centres. The spices are then grinded at a normal temperature so that its aroma is retained. The entire production process is completely automated with no human contact. For export, the products are tested by the Spices Board of India and SGS Lab for its Aflatoxin – four levels and Sudan – five levels.
Product range
Aroma Spices Industry offers a diverse range of products like – Turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder, black pepper powder, sambar powder, idli chilli powder, rasam powder, curry powder, Nigerian curry powder, chicken masala, mutton masala, fish masala, garam masala, chana masala, tandoori masala, chaat masala, pav bhaji masala, mixed masala and tea masala. Aroma Spices Industry has exported some its products like curry powder, mixed spices powder, red pepper powder to countries like Nigeria and neighbouring countries. The company is also exploring business opportunities in the Middle East, Japan, France, Germany, Thailand, Malaysia, the US, and UK.
Cookme
Over the years, Cookme has become a household name in spices all over India. Regarded for its penchant for quality, it has been enriching taste buds and the health of millions of Indians across generations
In 1846, during the times of Krishna Chandra Dutta, change was already evident in the generation, the technology, in transport and education. Dutta’s progressive visions for the homemakers took form in the hands of his grandson, Judhistir Dutta in 1958 when Cookme Spices came into existence. Kolkata, the gastronome’s paradise, was chosen as India’s first workshop for this venture. There was a clear objective – to make cooking easy without compromising on taste. The journey began with basic spices – turmeric, coriander, cumin and chili. Consequent innovations were aimed at making cooking simpler, enjoyable and delicious. This especially complemented the changing lifestyles of women who had begun to venture outdoors and earn of their own accord.
Cookme has developed quality products that preserve the natural therapeutic qualities that Indian spices are known for and at the same time made them available in formats such as ready mix blends which follow the easy process of add-mix-cook. Initially, Cookme spices were produced solely in the manufacturing unit in Kolkata. But the growing market for ground and packed spices led to the establishment of a research wing and another manufacturing unit. In 1997 a laboratory was established in Bengaluru. The raw materials i.e., the whole spices for the Cookme products are procured from reputed farming zones of the best crop growing regions of the country – Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, to name a few. Once inside Cookme’s manufacturing and processing units, these whole spices are processed in the most scientific and hygienic way. Cookme has a quality control department. The packages of products are designed and developed not only to look attractive, but also to retain freshness and natural flavour.
Product range
Cookme’s products include spices and spice-based ready-to-cook ingredients. They are made from the best spices, processed in a scientific way to retain their taste, aroma and beneficial properties. The company’s product range includes – Bangalir Pratorash, Bangalir Bhuribhoj, Super Snacks, Curries of India, Across the Indian Kitchens, Muglai Nazrana, Chinese Wok, Daily Grind and Basic Spices.
Everest
Given the diversity of Indian consumers, blending a masala is both a science and an art. Everest has been able to achieve this by manufacturing spices which are an amalgamation of great taste and aroma, colour and texture
For more than 45 years, Everest has shaped the preference for branded spice in India where homemade blends were the norm since time immemorial. It is estimated that over 20 million households regularly use Everest spices that are available in around 400,000 outlets in more than 1000 towns across India. Presently, Everest spices are available internationally as well including the US, the Middle East, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, East Africa, and other countries.
For many years, independent retail outlet surveys conducted by market research agency, A C Nielsen, have shown Everest to be India’s largest-selling spice brand. Over the years, Everest Masala has won many prestigious awards including Superbrands (thrice in succession in 2003-04, 2006-07 and 2009-10) and FMCG Consumer Reaction Awards (twice in a row in 2004 and 2005) and others.
Product range
The genesis of the concept of blended spices can be traced to the Garam Masala – the original Indian spice blend of cinnamon, pepper, clove and black cardamom, that imparts flavour and aroma to gourmet Indian cuisine. Taste was achieved through the addition of various spices known as colouring agents, souring agents, thickening agents, pungents, etc. Various other ingredients such as herbs, pulses and fresh spices were also added as cooling agents and nutritives. Everest took inspiration from these ancient and traditional culinary practices to create 18 different blends of spices, herbs and condiments like Garam Masala, Chaat Masala, Tea Masala, Pavbhaji Masala, Pani Puri Masala, Jaljira Powder, among others.
Everest Ground Spices pack in the fresh aroma, rich natural colour and flavour of spices. These spices are hand picked from carefully selected crops and sun dried before being ground to the perfect texture by accurately calibrated machines. The result is great taste and aroma, colour and texture. The spices are processed under stringent hygienic norms and packed scientifically to retain the maximum flavour, fragrance and nutritional values. Its range of ground spices include – White Pepper Powder, Dry Ginger Powder, Dry Mango Powder, Tikhalal, Kutilal, etc.
Catch
For over two decades, Catch spices have held an integral place in Indian kitchens with quality products available in innovative and attractive table top packaging
Catch spices, a part of the Rs 6500 crore DS Group, marked its debut in the spices category with the launch of Table Top Salt and Pepper Sprinklers in 1987. Catch has built up a strong brand equity over the years through its constant emphasis on superior quality, innovation and its ability to understand the consumer sentiments and market trends.
Catch spices are sourced from the best locations across the sub-continent using state-of-the-art Low Temperature Grinding (LTG) technology, which prevents the evaporation of volatile and delicate oils from spices. The products thus retain the original aroma and wholesome flavour of authentic spices. The spices are packed in food grade metal-lined cartons, flexible laminates and convenient composite cans available in a variety of pack sizes. The complete range of Catch salt and spices has a variety of sprinklers and a diverse range of whole, ground and blended spices.
Catch sprinkler has been chosen and recognised as a ‘superbrand’ commanding a premium brand image and enjoys a leadership in the category of sprinklers available in a variety of pack sizes and types to suit the diverse needs of the consumers.
Product range
With 75 variants across six product categories, Catch caters to the diverse Indian palate. Catch Table Top range includes Table Salt, Black Salt, Chaat Masala, Pepper, Dahi Masala and Seendha Namak. Catch Kitchen Range comprises Whole Spices, Straight Spices, Blends, Straight Premium and Hing.
Catch recently launched three products – Catch Paani Poori Masala, Catch Tea Masala and Catch Tandoori Masala. The new products have been developed for the food lovers who want to try out new dishes in the convenience of their kitchens. The new offerings are a combination of various fresh, aromatic spices, perfectly blended and packaged to give the right taste. Catch Pani Poori Masala is targeted at those people who love to eat typical spicy and tangy Indian snacks with an assurance of hygiene, at home. Catch Tea Masala is an easy, ready to use, blend of spices that makes a perfect exotic cup of tea, in just a few minutes. Catch Tandoori Masala makes a perfect marinating mix for all tandoori snacks right from Paneer Tikka to delicious Tandoori Chicken.
Ramdev
‘The lure of the unknown’, which repeatedly brought visitors to the Spice Land, was the presence of nature’s rich elements in those fresh and highly aromatic spices. Ramdev has preserved the same values in all its products since 1965
India, the queen of spices, has always attracted the world with her exotic masalas. In fact, the connection goes back many centuries to the time when travellers like Vasco da Gama and Columbus were still exploring the geography of the earth. Ramdev has preserved the same values in all its products ever since it started as a small unit in 1965 in Ahmedabad. A small step became a giant leap in no time. But there was a binding force, a commitment that helped it keep the promise of purity and freshness in its products for all these years.
The company’s belief in the philosophy of ‘reaching a customer’s heart through quality’ has enabled it to spread the rich Indian heritage to millions of homes all over the globe. Hasmukhbhai R Patel, chairman, Ramdev, has over 26 years of experience in procuring, manufacturing and marketing pure Indian spices. In 1989, he introduced spices in attractive and convenient consumer packs that set a new trend in the Indian spice market. He successfully launched instant mixes, asafoetida, blended spices, pickles masala thereafter. Patel is actively involved in production planning, product formulation, business development, project management, quality control, distribution and export management. He is a visionary who initiated the tough task to set a distribution network on foreign soils instead of exporting containers conventionally. Ruchir H Patel is the managing director, and the directors include Minaxi H Patel, Ripal H Patel, Pradip N Patel, Gaurang N Patel and Sachi R Patel.
Product range
The company’s premium spices include Kashmiri Chilli Powder/ Mirch powder, Turmeric Powder, Coriander Cumin Powder, Asafoetida. The instant mixes include Gota, Khaman, Dalwada, Dahiwada, Idli, Dhokla, Medhuwada, Dosa, Pizza, etc.
Hakim Masala
Branded as the ‘choice of the Nawabs’ ,Hakim Masala is a blend of spices that is most suitable for cooking meat in Mughlai style
Mumbai based Hakim Masala produces masalas that are reminiscence of the culinary traditions of the Mughal era. Hakim’s masala ingredients include coriander, cumin, fennel, sesame, chilly, onion, mustard, cinnamon, black cardamom, bay leaves, fenugreek, mace and salt. The masalas are prepared by blending a number of pure spices (sometimes more than 30) like chilli, turmeric, coriander, pepper, cardamom, cumin, clove, etc, in precise proportions to give a blend that imparts a distinct colour, aroma, and taste to a dish. Spices known for their colouring, thickening, souring, and pungency properties are often added to achieve masala blends. Many herbs, pulses and fresh spices are also added for their cooling and nutritive properties to masalas.
Unlike Western cooking wherein the emphasis is on retaining the original flavour of the meat or vegetables in a dish, in Indian cuisine, it is the aroma, taste, and colour of a spice mix or masala that dominates most dishes. Hakim Masala is created for cooking rich and aromatic Mughlai dishes.
Product range
Hakim Masala has launched a range of Mughlai Food Malasas. The products are easy to use and require minimum resources.
The list of popular masalas manufactured by the company are – Achari Masala (while most common with mutton can also be prepared with fish, paneer, mix vegetables, etc), Biryani Masala (for both veg and non veg biryani), Dal Gosht (mutton cooked with dal), Kofta Masala (for spicy kofta curry like malai kofta and lauki kofta, etc), Korma Masala (for chicken, lamb and vegetable korma), Nahari Masala (for mutton dish), Paya Masala (for mutton paya curry) and Shami Kabab Masala (for succulent minced lamb kababs). Shami Kabab is a popular local variety of kebab in the Indian subcontinent. The Tandoori Masala by Hakim is used extensively in dishes like tandoori chicken. In this dish, the chicken is covered with a mixture of plain yogurt and tandoori masala. The chicken is then roasted in the tandoor at very high heat. The chicken prepared in this fashion has a pink-colored exterior and a savoury flavour.
Hathi Masala
Supplying premium quality spices to clients and adapting a customer centric approach have been the motto of Hathi Masala. The company envisions to emerge as one of the most intensely admired spices brand in the global market
The business started as with a strong vision of supplying freshly grounded spices in packs. The man who turned a question – answer session into a business was Muktilal M Dubal. Since its inception in 1952, Gandhi Spices set up the factory near Rajkot City, in the state of Gujarat. The company has witnessed growth year after year and generation after generation. The overall logo states the company’s ‘Strength, Stability and Patience’ towards its products and business. The gigantic size and big pillar like feet shows the giant vision and steady growth while the big white tusks are a symbol of purity. The big ears show the company’s openness to listen to clients and critics. It also shows the awareness about market trends and technology advancement. Small but sharp eyes of an elephant are God’s gift to see across a longer distance. The ‘ambadi’ and the white bell on the elephant shows the company’s factory infrastructure and experienced management.
The company is one of India’s reputed manufacturers and exporters of spices. The company is ISO 9001:2008 and HACCP certified. As of today, the company is exporting to countries like UAE, Middle East, Africa, US, Australia, UK and Europe. The R&D team of the company is involved in finding new products that make kitchen job easy and time saving. Adding new products is a continuous process at Gandhi Spices.
Product range
In the ground spices product category, the company offers Chilli powder- Resham Kashmiri Dandicut, Kashmiri Sweet Chilli, Kashmiri Super, Chilli Powder Gulab, Chilli Powder Kamal, Chilli Powder Gati. In Turmeric Powder- Rajapuri, Selam, Super, while Coriander Cumin Powder and Coriander Cumin Powder Rajasthani Green. Black Pepper Powder, Dry Ginger Powder, Dry Mango Powder, Black Salt Powder, Rock Salt Powder. In the blended spices offerings, the company has premium secret Garam Masala, Garam Masala, Pav Bhaji Masala, Chhole Masala, Kitchen King Masala, Chicken and Meat Masala, Undhiya Masala, Sambhar Masala, Chatpata Chat, Pani Puri Masala, Tea Masala. Rajagra Flour (Amaranth Flour) is most commonly used during fasting in majority of Indian states. The Pre Mix Masala include Achar Masala Mix, etc.
MDH
Today having a range of 62 products available in over 150 different packages, MDH’s founder Mahashay Dharampal has been always devoted to quality and purity of MDH spices, making this the pillars of his progressive policies
Several decades ago, housewives used to grind their spices manually at home and make their own blends for use in their cooking. To make this process easier for housewives, Mahashian Di Hatti (MDH) visualised the concept of ready-to-use ground spices.
Starting with manually ground spices, MDH soon switched over to automatic machines to meet the fast growing demand for MDH Spices. So much so that today spices worth crores of rupees are manufactured and packed by modern machines and sold throughout India and abroad through a network of over 1,000 stockists and over four lakh retail dealers. These machines now have a capacity of producing 30 tonnes of spices in powders packed in consumer pack of different sizes (10 gms to 500 gms) in a day. MDH has established large fully automatic manufacturing plants at Delhi, Gurgaon (Haryana) three plants of spices, papad and export unit, Nagaur (Rajasthan) two plants of Methi and spices and Sojat (Rajasthan). Branches have been set up at Ghaziabad (UP) Amritsar and Ludhiana (Punjab). The company procures raw material directly from the centres of produce to maintain uniform taste and quality. Fully automatic machines have been installed for this process. MDH takes special care in selecting the raw material for the ground single spices category. This provides the consumer with spices made from the choicest raw material maintaining the highest processing standards. Mahashay Dharampal leads from the front, taking keen interest in creation of new products. Each one of the products carry a guarantee of the best quality standards. 88 years of experience has made MDH a brand people can trust.
Product range
In the grounded spices products, the company offers- Black Pepper Powder, Deggi Mirch, Dhania Powder, Haldi Powder, Jeera Powder, Kashmiri Mirch Powder, Kasoori Methi, LalMirch, White Pepper. While in the blended spices, it offers Amchoor Powder, Biryani Masala, Butter Chicken, Chana Masala, Chicken Masala, Chunky Chaat, Chutney Podina Masala, Curry Powder, Dahivada Raita, Dal Makhani Masala, Fish Masala, Garam Masala, Jaljeera, Kitchenking, Meat Masala, Panipuri, Pav Bhaji Masala, Rajmah Masala, Sambhar Masala, Shahi Paneer, T-plus, Tandoori Chicken Masala, Tava Fry Barwan Sabji Masala. Other products include Kesar, Dant Manjan, and Havan Samagri.
Today MDH spices and blends are popular not just in India but also overseas and are being exported to the United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe, South East Asia, Japan, UAE and Saudi Arabia. The company also has own offices in London (UK) and a state-of-the-art manufacturing unit at Sharjah (UAE).
Eastern
Eastern Condiments is a Rs 650 crore Kochi headquartered company that holds a strong position in India’s burgeoning spices industry
Eastern Condiments started as a family-managed business and soon transformed into a professionally-run organisation by adopting several steps to imbibe the principles of sound corporate governance practices. Thanks to stringent quality control measures, Eastern Condiments promises and delivers quality products to its customers. These assurances include: aromatic products; 100 per cent natural products which are devoid of artificial preservatives and colours; an authentic sequential process of blending, which is akin to home processing and; the use of only the best quality raw materials and other ingredients to create the products.
Eastern is marching towards the goal of becoming IT-enabled and fully automated. The company has invested in the right kind of quality control measures and has a fully automated microbiology testing laboratory. This fully automated lab for quality control has been established in association with Biomerieux, a French company which is known for its testing and monitoring equipment for the food sector.
Important and effective checks and balances such as human hands free processes, flavour lock and advanced steam sterilisation result in products which are authentic and are liked by customers. Products such as Eastern Chilli Powder are recognisable for their aroma, flavour and taste.
The quality control measures ensure that this chilli powder is produced with utmost care. It starts with selecting only the highest grade of chillies such as Dubby Bedagi and Kashmiri chilli from a few places in India. Chillies are procured during harvest season and then stored under hygienic conditions in cold storage facilities. The raw material goes through processes such as grading and cleaning which ensures that damaged chillis, dirt and debris are completely eliminated.
Further, the raw material is pre-cleaned and sterilised. With equipment and knowhow from Germany and the Netherlands, chillies are ground and sterilised in keeping with international standards.
Product range
Eastern’s experts blend the spices and this makes the spiciness and flavour of its products unique. Since the core of each ingredient is maintained, the spice blends and powders are excellent in their quality too.
The range includes various categories like Spice Powders (Cumin Powder, Deccan Chilli, Fennel Powder, Dry Ginger Powder, etc). There are also a mix of Masala Blends (Chat Masala, Goda Masala, Mixed Curry, Rasam Powder, Meat Masala, Fish Masala, etc), and others.
MTR Foods
A tradition that began in 1924 has transformed into an illustrous venture today. The company’s vision is to be an indispensable companion in every kitchen to help create authentic and delicious food
The tradition of food and hospitality began in 1924 with the establishment of the MTR Restaurant by the Maiya family in Bengaluru. Then in 1975, Maiyas diversified into the business of convenience foods and instant mixes. As the business expanded, modernisation and state-of-the-art facilities, including a dedicated lab and printing and packaging facilities, were added. MTR’s wide range of products include ready-to-eat curries and rice, ready-to-eat cook gravies, frozen food, ice-cream, instant mixes, spices and variety of pickles and papads, and milk beverage drinks. While its history nears the century mark, MTR Foods has consolidated its market leadership in the south and is all set for a strong pan India presence, beginning with forays into the northern, western and eastern regions.MTR has its footprints across the globe. To fuel further growth, MTR became part of Norwegian Company M/s Orkla in 2007. Post this joint venture, MTR Foods has taken major steps to revitalise its brand appeal and establish its presence in the homes of modern consumers across India. With an all-new brand presence and a unique brand identity, MTR Foods seeks to own the instant food category in the rest of India; with spices as a constant focus in the southern regions. Keeping in mind the changing consumer of today, MTR Foods has realigned its product portfolio to resonate with the needs of the modern consumer.
Product range
Masalas form an integral part of everyday cooking and therefore the company follows the authentic process of making masalas. The purest ingredients are ‘pounded to perfection’ to give the right blend of masalas thereby helping in making authentic tasting dishes. Their masalas are favourite among the consumers which also makes them the leading player in some key states of South. The masala product range offered include sambar powder, rasam powder, garam masala, Puliogare Powder, Madras Sambar Powder, Madras Rasam Powder, Bisibele Bhath Masala, Vangi Bhath, Pulao Masala, Chana Masala, Idli/Dosa/Chilli Chutney Powder, Dal Powder, Pav Bhaji Masala, Sambhar Masala, Rasam Masala, Kulambu Masala.
Business expansion
MTR Foods – the byword for authentic Indian food marks its global presence for its wide range of packaged products and recipes. The brand is now home to almost every kitchen in the USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, Japan and South East Asian countries. The culinary expertise blends years of rigorous quality, tradition and taste in wide range of ready to eat-curries/ rice/ soups, breakfast mixes, dessert mixes, snack mixes, spices and masala, heat and eat and a variety of accompaniments like pickles and papads.
Priya Foods
True to the tradition of the Ramoji Group, Priya Foods is committed to providing its customers with the best flavours of India
In 1980, the visionary chairman of Ramoji Group, Ramoji Rao, created Priya Foods, which went on to revolutionise the entire pickle culture in India. It metamorphosed a great subjective art into an objective scientific technique. It transformed an ancient technique into a contemporary process supported by technology and management.
At Priya Foods, consumer appeal is the ultimate criterion for product popularity and success. The company’s R&D team, drawn from food microbiology, food science and technology and packaging disciplines, undertakes shelf life studies, organoleptic evaluation, and quality control so that the consumers get products of proven merit and assured quality. Its most innovative tool is the Product Traceability System (PTS), which makes use of elaborate online data logging records organised and arranged in accordance with the batch number on the final pack. The system enables traceability of the product back to a particular batch and the individual ingredients that go into the batch
Priya Foods seeks to minimise the use of added artificial preservatives to the irreducible minimum. Its technology and knowledge has helped in utilising natural preservative action of the ingredients to enhance and ensure optimum shelf life of the product. All the products can be classified into two categories based on the principles of preservation.
Product range
Priya Foods was launched with six flavours of pickles. Now it offers about 36 varieties of pickles, 10 varieties of pastes, four varieties of spice powders, six varieties of masala powders, five varieties of curry masala powders, seven varieties of traditional powders, 12 varieties of instant mixes, 10 varieties of papads, 29 varieties of ready-to-eat, nine varieties of convenient mixes, and 12 varieties of snacks.
Kitchen Treasures
Kitchen Treasures promises and delivers 100 per cent authenticity and quality to its customers through its range of natural spices and spice blends
Kitchen Treasures is from the house of Synthite – one of the world’s largest producers of value added spices. Synthite has a 42-year long and successful history in producing spices, natural flavours, spice oleoresins, and pure and blended seasonings. The customers include FMCG food manufacturers, flavour and colour houses.
Kitchen Treasures aims to create a 100 per cent experience for its consumers. From source to the shelf, the company strives to achieve absolute purity, taste and quality at every step. From its 10,000 acre controlled network of farms to conscientious cleaning, manufacturing and packaging processes that meet global standards, to stringent quality norms, the company aims to provide its customers the best range of spice products.
The company launched Farmtech, its raw materials sustainability initiative. Farmtech educates the farmers to maintain complete compliance with the stringent European Commission norms that include: soil analysis, seed selection, fertiliser and pesticide application, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices, measures to prevent crop diseases and post harvest handling. There is a multi-layered quality control system that begins right at the farming stage. This ensures that the raw materials are of utmost purity and meets stringent quality norms. The company also exercises maximum control over farming techniques and limits the usage of synthetics. The same goes for its production and manufacturing units as well. The units are ISO 22000:2005 certified and they assure the customers a globally recognised quality-control system.
Kitchen Treasures spices are processed at its spice division, Synthite Taste Park. The company has a state-of-the art, ISO certified and HACCP and BRC compliant processing facility, that meets global food safety standards. The company ensures that its manufacturing processes remain optimal at all times. Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) is used to ensure overall processes effectiveness by reducing wastages like idle manpower and machines, and energy losses.
Product range
The current offerings by Kitchen Treasures include a range of natural spices and spice blends. The range of spices include 100% Chilli Powder, 100% Coriander Powder, 100% Turmeric Powder, 100% Kashmiri Chilli Powder, 100% Black Pepper Powder, 100% Mustard seeds. Masalas include Chicken Masala, etc.
