Spice Nest: Elevating Indian spices globally

In the latest edition of our Food Frontiers episode, we are delighted to welcome Mr. Rajesh Rabadiya, Managing Director and CEO of Spice Nest, a leading manufacturer and exporter of premium processed food and spices. With a deep-rooted commitment to quality and innovation, Mr. Rajesh has been instrumental in steering Spice Nest to new heights in the competitive spice industry.

In this podcast, Mr. Rajesh shares his journey of leading Spice Nest, the challenges of running a successful food manufacturing company, and how the brand has adapted to the evolving demands of both domestic and international markets. We also dive into his vision for Spice Nest, which emphasises a customer-centric approach and sustainable practices aimed at long-term growth.

IBT: Spice Nest has established itself as a top exporter in the food industry. Can you share the journey of Spice Nest—from its inception to becoming a leader in organic and sustainable spices?

Rajesh Rabadiya: Spice Nest’s journey began in 2011, when the founders grew from a small farmer’s son to a successful business owner. The company started with a factory manufacturing facility in Rajkot, Gujarat, India, and expanded its product range to include cooking pests and spices. The company initially exported peeled garlic, garlic paste, ginger paste, and spices, initially exporting to two to three countries. Over time, the company has expanded its product portfolio and now exports to over 25 countries. With over 150 employees, Spice Nest provides excellent customer service in over 25 countries, including the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Russia, and Gulf countries. The company is connected to many countries through customer or merchant exports.

IBT: With your extensive range of products, including cooking pastes and spices, what criteria do you use to develop new products? How does Spice Nest ensure it meets the changing tastes and dietary preferences of consumers?

Rajesh Rabadiya: This is very interesting; for example, in a three-member family, each member has a unique taste palette. This means that when developing new food products, the R&D team continuously works on improving the taste for each person. We gather customer feedback and demands to brainstorm ideas and identify business opportunities for the new range. We also analyse current trends in food and develop new products accordingly.

Manufacturers must consider sourcing ingredients, processing machines, and technologies while ensuring they are healthy for everyone. This involves developing new products through sampling to gather feedback from customers. After receiving feedback, the team works on the samples and finalises the product. This process is long and involves considering various tastes and preferences within the same household.

Overall, the development of new food products requires careful consideration of taste, sourcing, processing, and technology. Developing a product that caters to the unique tastes of each family member is a complex and time-consuming process.

IBT: As the MD & CEO, how do you instill a culture of quality within your organisation? What processes are in place to guarantee that every product meets the high standards expected by your customers?

Rajesh Rabadiya: In the food business, quality and taste are intertwined, and a company must prioritise both to ensure the success of its products. A culture of quality must be established in every company to ensure the product meets consumer expectations and provides healthy food. Specific SOPs must be set up for every step of food processing, and staff must inspect the food before delivering it.

Third-party audits are also crucial in maintaining quality. These audits check records, practices, and certification guidelines, such as USFDA, ISO, and organic product certifications like NPOP and NOP. Regular certification audits are necessary to ensure the company maintains a culture of quality and meets consumer expectations.

In summary, maintaining quality and taste is essential for the success of any food business. Companies must establish specific SOPs, maintain third-party audits, and maintain certifications like BRC, FDA, ISO, and NPOP and NOP to ensure the quality of their products.

IBT: The food industry is continuously evolving. What are the current trends you see influencing the market, particularly in the realm of organic and processed foods, and how is Spice Nest capitalising on these trends?

Rajesh Rabadiya: Spice Nest has expanded its product range from a limited range of spices to a wide variety of processed food products, including cooking pastes like garlic paste, ginger paste, chilli paste, mint paste, and vegetable pastes. The company also manufactures concentrate and pulp, including tomato pulp, mango pulp, and tamarind concentrate. The company has developed a wide range of sources, including barbecue sauce, Sriracha sauce, light soy sauce, and dark soy sauce, which are consumed globally.

In terms of organic products, Spice Nest has certified many cooking pastes, organic garlic paste, and organic ginger paste, catering to health-conscious consumers who are attracted to pesticide-free products. Spice Nest offers a wide range of products to cater to all types of customers, including those who are health-conscious and prefer pesticide-free options. This broad range of products caters to the diverse needs of its customers.

IBT: Reflecting on your experience of over 13 years in this role, what are some significant challenges you have faced in the spice industry? How have you navigated these challenges, and what have you learnt from them?

Rajesh Rabadiya: Food faces challenges due to seasonal availability of ingredients, such as mango, which requires a three-month storage period. This limited inventory leads to price fluctuations, and the company must provide consistent and economic pricing to customers. The food business faces inventory challenges as well as global challenges such as sea freight and transit time. These issues can lead to long transit times and unpredictable freight prices.

When we talk about the policy, in 13 years re-importing has been very difficult in our countries because our norms are not understood somewhere by exporters and our local authorities appointed by government. The company needs to work on improving policy to make reimporting easier and understand the needs of exporters and local authorities.

The government must also understand how to make reimporting easier, as sometimes problems arise when importing containers to India. Currently, Food’s policies are not good for export perspectives, and they must work on improving their policies to better serve their customers.

IBT: How has technology influenced your operations at Spice Nest? Are there any specific innovations that your team is currently exploring or implementing to enhance productivity or product quality?

Rajesh Rabadiya: Technology in the food industry is crucial for traceability and business development. One recipe may contain multiple ingredients, making it essential to track each ingredient’s count and identify any issues. Technology is now mandatory for business development and traceability of food ingredients. Teams must maintain records in ERP systems, including food production, production process state, and order status. Technology is seen as one way to provide a complete solution for customers and manufacturers, ensuring traceability and efficient operations.

IBT: Looking forward, what is your vision for Spice Nest in the next five to ten years? How do you plan to adapt to ongoing changes in consumer preferences and industry dynamics?

Rajesh Rabadiya: Spice Nest’s vision is to represent their brand in over 25 countries, serving organic segments and providing fair prices to farmers and healthy food. We aim to become a global leader in this organic segment, representing specialists and suppliers who deserve fair prices for their hard work. This vision also includes entering the mainstream market, where native people consume other than Indian food, and serving spiciness as a strong brand. By doing so, Spice Nest aims to become a leader in the organic segment and become a strong global brand for their suppliers.

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Mr. Rajesh Rabadiya, Managing Director and CEO of Spice Nest, a leading manufacturer and exporter of premium processed food and spices.