Grocery shop to thriving spice brand: MA graduate leads J-K firm’s rise

Avilasha Salaria, a Massachusetts-educated woman, joined the Salaria family in 2019, inheriting a long-standing grocery business in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district. Seven years later, Avilasha and her husband, Rohit, have successfully transformed their family's traditional kirana (grocery) trade into a registered food-processing enterprise called Salaria Foods.

The brand offers a range of spices under 'Vimal' and pickles under 'Swad Le'. Despite the business being under her name, Avilasha credits her husband, brother-in-law Ramneek, and the entire family for their support in expanding the venture. Currently, the company manufactures around 20-25 varieties of spices and pickles, with annual sales reaching Rs 60-70 lakh.

The business began in a rented house and later moved into a 4,500 square feet modern processing unit, built with a Rs 75 lakh investment. The production process involves sorting, drying, grinding, sieving, and packaging of spices directly sourced from local and regional farmers. The enterprise avoids large inventories, focusing on fresh grinding to preserve the natural aroma and quality of spices.

The company has received government support through machinery subsidies and participation in food exhibitions, which has helped the Salarias understand market trends and introduce their products to new buyers. The enterprise currently employs around 10 people and is gradually scaling up production capacity while maintaining a focus on freshness and quality.

Avilasha emphasizes that her success is due to her family's encouragement and their collective efforts.