There has been a plethora of developments in the spice exports industry in India in the last five years. Quality no longer means physical appearance, taste and aroma. A number of factors such as microbiology, pesticide residues, mycotoxins, noxious weeds and pyrrolizidine alkaloids, allergens and traceability now determine the quality of spice. Spices export industry had to face incremental checks for these parameters in the importing countries and thus had to overhaul their systems.
Every country had their unique requirements and some techniques which worked for one country and were banned for other countries. Spice exporters also had to undergo both backward and forward integration to meet requirements of the importing country. Combating all such amendments and challenges, M Lallubhai & Company, as a company has been consistent in delivering what they promised. ‘Integrity, high ethics, and sound knowledge about quality requirements drive the business for the company,’ says Viren Shah, Owner, MLallubhai & Company.
M Lallubhai & Company is one of the leading spice exporters in the country. Besides conventional whole spices like Cumin, Fennel, Fenugreek, Dill, Turmeric, Chillies, Sesame, Celery, Cardamom, Nutmeg, Ginger, Nigella, it also offers IPM spices meeting pesticide residues limit of EU. The
company has lately started offering organic spices too, meeting strict regulatory guidelines. Customers get delighted when imported cargo meets the stringent pesticide requirements of the EU on arrival. The company’s foray into IPM products (Integrated pest management) resulting from backward integration with farmers has resulted in increased volumes from the strict EU market. Backward Integration with farmers ensures sustainable products with 100% traceability.
Every year the company trains farmers, making them aware about newer residue limits and how to remove noxious weeds to ensure pyrrolizidine alkaloids within limits. It pays wealthy premiums to keep farmers motivated, ensuring honesty and a reliable supply chain. The company also prioritizes carefully selecting their land and region to grow their spices to avoid allergen crop contamination. It also makes sure to clean the raw spices to best purity avoiding cross contamination and steam sterilized on request to lower the microbiology count.
Integrity, high ethics, and sound Knowledge about quality Requirements drive the business for the company
With its own cleaning plant for seed spices near Mundra port, the company ensures to deliver perfect quality of spices every time. In addition to that the company has tied up with the best laboratory that provides truthful results to avoid deviation on arrival. M Lallubhai & Company assists employees to stay professionally competitive in the industry by frequently giving them training to make them aware of newer quality requirements. ‘Every employee of our company reflects the strong ethics set by the management which never has to be compromised. Employees are encouraged to ask the right questions to the leaders and increase their confidence whenever needed,’ adds Viren Shah, Owner, M Lallubhai & Company.
The company is now into its 50th year of operations and has grown slowly from smaller geographies to the international markets. From merchant exporter to manufacturer and now backward integration with famers, the company has evolved with growing needs of the industry. Currently it experiences a 20% YOY growth with increasing volumes from newer markets and newer segments.
For the near future, the company is eyeing at increasing the basket of IPM products from existing Cumin, Turmeric and Chillies. It also wants to enter into Consumer packaging of organic products to reach super-markets world-over.
