The Unjha facility includes an advanced quality testing laboratory as the company targets exports to the US, Europe and the Middle East
Khetika has invested Rs 10 crore to establish a spices manufacturing facility and advanced quality testing laboratory in Unjha, Gujarat, with an initial production capacity of 500 MT, as the clean food brand looks to expand its exports.
The company expects the facility to reach 100 per cent capacity utilisation within its first year of operations and plans to scale production further. Khetika is targeting international markets including the US, Europe and the Middle East, with exports expected to account for a growing share of the plant’s output.
The integrated facility has been set up to strengthen quality control and traceability across Khetika’s spices business. The dedicated laboratory will conduct testing at multiple stages, covering raw material approval, process controls, batch testing and finished product verification.
Its testing capabilities will also include pesticide residue analysis, microbiological and chemical testing, nutritional analysis, contaminant assessment, shelf-life studies, packaging evaluation and water quality testing.
The spices processed at the facility will be sourced through Khetika’s farmer partnerships. The company said its pesticide-free positioning begins at the farm level through the Khetika SAATHI programme, under which farmers are supported in adopting Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices aimed at reducing pesticide dependency.
“India is the world’s largest spice exporter, yet we are yet to see an Indian consumer spice brand emerge as a global leader,” said Prithwi Singh, co-founder and CEO, Khetika.
Singh said the new manufacturing facility and testing laboratory would help the company strengthen its ability to meet global quality and safety standards, while the SAATHI programme focuses on practices at the farm level.
Khetika said the combination of farmer partnerships, in-house testing and manufacturing is intended to provide greater control over the supply chain, from sourcing and testing to processing and finished products.
The Unjha facility comes as the company seeks to build its spices business around quality, traceability and pesticide-residue control. The company plans to increase production capacity as demand develops in domestic and international markets.
Founded by Singh, Darshan Krishnamurthy and Raghuveer Allada, Khetika sells spices, dosa batters and healthy snacking products including dry fruits and makhana. Its product portfolio is built around zero preservatives, stone-ground processing and single-origin sourcing.
