Guwahati: Tradition meets innovation by redefining the market for homemade pickles. While the world was grappling with COVID-19 and lockdowns in 2021, Mahendra Krishna Saikia from Guwahati embarked on a culinary venture in 2021 with 'Solis Natural Ventures'. Through this venture, Saikia and his partner embarked on a mission to introduce homemade pickles with zero preservatives in the market.
After rigorous testing, Solis Natural Ventures has recently commenced commercial production, starting with a range of pickles that has already garnered acclaim. The crown jewel of their offerings, the 'hathkowa' pickle, has also earned this startup a prestigious award. However, Solis Natural Ventures is not content with just one laurel – their diverse pickle selection includes unique varieties like bhoot jolokiya (king chilly) and bamboo shoots. The firm sources its fiery king chillies from neighbouring Manipur.
Setting itself apart from the competition, Solis Natural Ventures filed a patent for its zero-preservative technique, emphasizing natural ingredients and less iodized salts.
In December 2023, the company ventured into uncharted territory by launching Black Wheat, a forgotten grain of India. Obtaining seeds from Uttarakhand, Solis Natural Ventures addressed the challenges of low productivity by setting up a mill in Guwahati, supported by the World Bank. Despite its low yield, Black Wheat boasts high iron and zinc content, making it a nutritional powerhouse. The product is 100% gluten-free and particularly recommended for post-pregnancy and frail individuals, aligning with the National Health Mission's guidelines.
Solis Natural Ventures' commitment to innovation extends to its market approach. To support the cultivation and processing of black wheat, which is traditionally sown near the Bangladesh border, Solis Natural Ventures has set up a mill in Guwahati, generously backed by the World Bank. A soft launch at an agri-horti show generated an impressive response, with 1,000 kgs sold within the first 20 days, including home deliveries.
"We are yet to introduce our black wheat product in the market", Saikia shared with Business North East. "However, we have plans to enter the global markets."
Not stopping at pickles and wheat, the company has also ventured into jaggery production. Their unique technique involves slow cooking under low temperatures to preserve beneficial nutrients. Saikia said that, unlike the common caramelized jaggeries in the market, Solis Natural Ventures' jaggery maintains its grains, ensuring that the essential nutrients are not lost. Additionally, the company is developing a preservation technique to extend the shelf life of jaggery up to 12 months.
Despite being in its infancy, Solis Natural Ventures has demonstrated exceptional financial growth. With an initial investment of Rs 20-25 lakh primarily allocated to research and development, the startup has already achieved a turnover exceeding Rs 70 lakh within 1.5 years. "Looking ahead, our ambitious team anticipates reaching a turnover of 1 crore this year", Saikia said.
In a remarkable feat, Solis Natural Ventures has secured an export order from Abu Dhabi, with a demand for 20,000 bottles every month.
Solis Natural Ventures is currently concentrating on acquiring mechanical equipment to enhance production capabilities, aiming to secure more orders and propel the company to greater heights, said CEO Saikia.
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