For over a decade, I worked as a civil engineer with leading government oil companies. In 2021, however, I decided to return to my hometown, Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, to explore new possibilities in business.
A visit to a Walmart Best Price store (now Flipkart Wholesale) became a turning point. There, I picked up a jar of pickle that sparked an idea—how age-old recipes with natural ingredients could be reimagined for today’s consumers. What started as a simple thought soon evolved into a focused effort to make condiments healthier and more suitable for modern lifestyles.
My mother, known for her delicious homemade pickles, became my inspiration. I relied on her traditional recipes to launch Organic Anand in 2021. Our first product was a simple mango pickle, made the indigenous way with only oil and salt as preservatives.
Initially, I assumed customers would be ready for my product and that demand would build naturally. However, once the business was underway, I realized how essential it was to understand market readiness. This early experience taught me the importance of studying customer preferences and strengthening marketing and branding to create sustained demand. It also made me appreciate how technical knowledge and sound operations are key to building a sustainable business.
As I looked for ways to strengthen my business, I discovered the Walmart Vriddhi program in 2022. I found great value in its focus on building entrepreneurial capability through learning and mentorship, so I decided to register.
The program’s free modules, personalized guidance, and digital tools helped me understand key aspects of business such as marketing, customer acquisition, supply chain management, and sustainable packaging. The personalized mentorship sessions gave me a new perspective on my business and how customers experience it.
For example, we previously packed our pickles in plastic jars, not realizing their long-term environmental impact. Through the sessions, I learned about sustainable packaging and shifted to glass jars, which are safer for customers and better for the environment. My mentor also helped me refine my product portfolio, improve listings, enhance social media visibility, and strengthen customer engagement to improve repeat purchase rates. These small but powerful changes had a significant impact, driving stronger brand visibility and contributing to steady business growth.
Onboarding with Flipkart became a milestone in my business journey. The platform enabled me to reach customers across India—from small towns in Assam and Odisha to major cities like Mumbai and Delhi, expanding my market far beyond what I could have achieved locally.
This wider reach through eCommerce directly translated into higher sales. Before joining the Walmart Vriddhi program, my monthly revenue was around ₹30,000; today, it exceeds ₹10 lakh, with Flipkart contributing nearly ₹1 lakh. The growth through online channels also gave me the confidence to broaden my product portfolio—from a single mango pickle to a range of 15–20 chemical-free, immunity-boosting products, including amla candy, herbal powders, honey-based offerings, and natural hair-care packs.
The growth of Organic Anand has also created opportunities for others in my community. What began as a one-person venture now employs more than ten people, including three women in our packaging and quality team. During peak seasons, that number rises to 15. Many of these women, who earlier relied only on field work for income, now earn steady wages throughout the year.
Knowing that the business supports livelihoods in my hometown gives me a deep sense of fulfilment. For me, Organic Anand is not just about products—it is about people and shared progress.
Our purpose is clear: to offer products made with natural ingredients that bring people closer to nature. We are now expanding into herbal powders, mouth fresheners, candies, and natural hair-care products, and plan to explore exports through Walmart Vriddhi program’s opportunities to sell on Walmart Marketplace.
Looking back, choosing to leave my corporate career and start my own venture was a defining decision. The Walmart Vriddhi program gave me the knowledge, confidence, and platform to turn that decision into a growing enterprise. What began with one jar of homemade pickle has evolved into a brand built on purity, authenticity, and trust and the journey of Organic Anand is only getting started.
