Pickles are sweet and sour food made from vegetables, fruits, and even non-vegetarian items such as fish and chicken. They are widely consumed all over India and are must-have with meals for a significant part of the population. Multiple popular dishes are complete with pickles. Hence, the pickle business is very profitable in India. With the growth of Indian diaspora in foreign countries, the demand for pickles continues to rise abroad with consequent demand for pickle exports.

Pickle-making is one of the few businesses which can be started with a little capital in India. There are a few steps that you need to follow to start a pickle business in India.

Select the type of pickle.

Determining the type of pickle you want to make is the first step. There are many types of pickles, such as mixed vegetables, garlic, carrot, red and green chilly, lemon, prawn, chicken, and more. There are multiple types of taste, such as sweet, sour, sweet and sour, spicy, and more.

You must undertake proper research to decide upon the type of pickle you want to sell or whether you can go for multiple kinds of pickles. Identifying the variety of pickle consumers’ tastes helps you select your target consumers, which also helps you decide the nature of the pickle to manufacture. Exploring the feasibility of making unique pickles is also recommended to attract more customers and steal a lead over your competitors.

Whatever pickle you want to make, it is imperative to first identify the sources for procuring large volumes of ingredients required to prepare the pickles, such as vegetables, fruits, fish, spices, oil, etc.

Business Plan and Infrastructure

Establishing a business plan entails selecting between producing at home or a manufacturing unit. Home business is a suitable option if you want to manufacture pickles on a limited scale. Home businesses get a lot of incentives from the government in many states. However, if you want to manufacture and sell pickles on a large scale, you need a dedicated manufacturing plant.

Machines are required for pickle production regardless of whether you want to home-produce or set up a manufacturing unit. A home-based pickle business requires the correct machines to cut fruits and vegetables, jars, bottles, containers, preservatives, oil, spices, and more.

To manufacture pickles on an industrial scale, you need bigger and more sophisticated types of machinery for cutting, pickling, and mixing. Huge-sized containers and packaging jars are also required to establish large-scale pickle manufacturing operations.

Mandatory Licences and Registrations

Certain registrations and licenses must be obtained to set up a pickle business, irrespective of whether you want to manufacture pickles on a small, medium, or large scale. Thus, you must apply for registrations and licenses to establish your pickle business legally.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India or FSSAI license is mandatory for any food and food products business. FSSAI is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Its function is to supervise food safety and quality. Packaged food products are required to carry the 14-digit FSSAI number. FSSAI certification proves that the food quality meets the standards laid down by the FSSAI. The documents required to apply for an FSSAI license are as follows

• Documents detailing the business operations and ownership structure
• PAN Card
• Details of the pickles to be manufactured
• Duly filled Form IX
• Business agreement

Registration under the Companies Act 2013 is necessary to establish your pickle business as a company or partnership. However, this is optional if you want to opt for sole proprietorship. Other required registrations are GST, Udyog Aadhar, business entity, and PAN card registration.

Storage, Packaging, and Marketing

Storage space is required for raw materials and pickles. The amount of storage space required depends upon the scale of your manufacturing operations. For packaging, you need sustainable practices that preserve the quality of your pickles for a long time.

Marketing can be done by giving promotional offers, establishing links with retail outlets, and taking online orders through a dedicated website.