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Pune Feb 15 The Pune-based Pravin Masalewale, a player in the spices segment, is set to expand its pan-Indian presence and increase its manufacturing capacities.

With the capacity expansion, it is planning to launch branded chilli powder for the international market.

Speaking to newspersons, Mr Vishal Chordia, Director (Sales and Marketing), and Mr Anand Chordia, Director (Manufacturing), said that the company is bringing into its fold customers from Rajasthan, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. He said that it would be entering these markets with its branded products and specialised powders, taking local taste and preferences into consideration.

For the Maharashtra market, the company has so far launched six different regional products - kala masala (which has a distinct burnt taste) for its Nashik customers, milk masala, garam masala, Super King masala, haldi and coarse chilli flakes for Kolhapur.

It plans to launch 25 new products in this category by next year. These would include single masala and blended flavours.

Exports

On exporting, he said that the company has started exports to Zambia. The company's exports, which have been going on for a year now, have seen 20 tonnes of masala hitting the Zambian market.

The company has also started operations in South Africa and has appointed distributors to tap the African markets.

The other markets would include New Zealand and the UK, to start with.

Mr Vishal Chordia said that keeping the standard values and guidelines of the international market prescribed by the American Spice Trade Association, it is developing chilli as per international specifications by using Indian raw material such as Guntur chillies.

On expansion, he said that the company has set up a Yawat production unit near Pune at a cost of Rs 5 crore.

This plant has been developed over seven acres and has three separate units of 10,000 sq ft each to manufacture and process chillies, turmeric and coriander, apart from a full-fledged research and development centre.

The plant currently has a fast speed chilli processing unit that produces 1,000 kg an hour, 700 kg of turmeric and 770 kg of coriander powder.

As part of the expansion, the company would be setting up three units - one at Shirwal for papad manufacturing, one at Hadapsar in Pune for blended spices and another at Yawat.

A total investment of Rs 5 crore has been earmarked for the setting up of three additional facilities in the next three years.

Mr Vishal Chordia said that the company, which is 40 years old, had started with a manufacturing capacity of five kg of masala powders a month. Now, total production touches 1,000 tonnes of spices and papads a month.

Turnover, which stood at Rs 48 crore last fiscal, is set to touch Rs 70 crore this year.

Mr Vishal Chordia said that there are 200 regional brands and the monthly requirement of the Maharashtra market alone is 20,000 tonnes.

Of this, only 5,000 tonnes is supplied by the organised market.

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