NV Talks with Editor-in-Chief Dusmanta Behera
Minchy’s, a name synonymous with Himachali Traditional Pickle, Chutney, Jam and Juices. To discuss how the Company started and now sprinkling the traditional and tangy foods to the mouth of every household, NVN exclusively talks with Mr Girish Minocha, Founder of Minchy’s.
NVN: Welcome Mr Girish Minocha to NewzVille Network. I felt contented when I first saw a tagline like, Minchy’s: A gift from the Himalayas. First of all tell us your Journey. How did the idea come to make products like Pickle, Jam and Chutney?
Mr Minocha: Thankyou NewZville Network for inviting for this conversation. I am basically an engineer from Delhi College of Engineering, after which I was working as a Marketing Engineer with a Switchgear company in Delhi. On a cold winter morning, upon reaching the office 10 minutes late, the boss asked me arrogantly, “Mr. Minocha, do you know what time it is?” and I replied, “Yes Sir, it’s time to quit my job”. And I left.
Subsequently, upon returning to Shimla, I needed something to do, and since I was not cut out to work for someone else, I decided to start my own venture. But what? A small newspaper cutting highlighting the then Chief minister, Sh. Shanta Kumar Ji, talking about the incentives available for the Food Processing sector in the state caught my attention. I went to the industries department and discussed with the Industrial Advisor. I decided that we could utilize the horticultural surpluses of our state, do value addition using traditional methods and recipes, tweaking them to commercial scale, and selling them in the market where I envisaged a huge demand-supply gap.
My wife Sonia Minocha and I co-founded this business where she has been the pillar behind its operations and success. She took lead on manufacturing of pickles and chutneys and the development of more traditional as well as premium products in this segment which made Minchy’s stand out even more! Rest is history.
NVN: Can you just give a brief background of you and your ancestral family? And how do you dive into the Food Industry?
Mr Minocha: I come from a family involved in the traditional business of distribution of essential commodities like edible oils and Desi Ghee. This always created an interest in me towards the retail sector, and the interest that I could sell the way my family had always done. Also, I could get a ready-made launch platform, using the existing dealers. Also, the food industry is a place where a certain acumen is required. And it seems I had the knack for retail while my wife was the one handling the backend of things, ensuring quality and innovative products.
NVN: If you don’t mind, we would like to ask you to share about the Business size of Minchy’s and do you have Pan-India presence or only in and around Himachal Pradesh.
Mr Minocha: From a humble beginning in 1993 with a built up space of 1500 sq feet, and 4 employees, we have, steadily, over the years grown to a stage where we have 3 fully functional production facilities comprising a consolidated built up area of 50000 sq feet and almost 200 employees. One new state of the art facility is coming up soon in Baddi.
NVN: How much effort you and your team put to get the right outcome of your business. The food industry is very delicate, but if you do satisfy your consumer then there is no stopping.
Mr Minocha: The road to success is never smooth, and neither was our journey. A lot of effort has gone in to the growth of Minchy’s as a brand and as a business, with very important contributions coming in from everyone around us. I would specifically like to mention the undying support and belief that my family, including my parents, grandparents, uncle and Aunt, wife, and children, had in the venture, and everyone pitched in with their best to help Minchy’s reach where it is today. The effort put in by our Loyal and dedicated staff as well as our satisfied customers also need special mention, without whom we could not have moved an inch.
Here, I would like to mention that at the time when my wife and I were setting up the food processing industry, my late grandfather came to me and told me in so many words, “Girish, you are getting into an industry where the products you manufacture will be reaching millions of mouths. Please make sure you manufacture only those products that you can safely and confidently feed to your own Children!” This was something which struck a deep chord, and became the life mantra for the entire Minchy’s Team. We at Minchy’s stick to quality that we can eat at our own homes without remorse or guilt, and that is the secret of our success. Our customers have an undying faith and trust in our products, and today Minchy’s has become synonymous with quality.
NVN: Now tell me something I am very curious about, yeah the Brand of Minchy’s. How did the brand name come up in your mind?
Mr Minocha: A rather interesting but funny story. I studied in Delhi College of Engineering, where I was in the hostel, and as is typical of every hostel in the country, every student has a nickname given to him by his classmates. I was never MINOCHA or GIRISH to my friends, but they all called me MINCHY. Once I came back home, the name stuck, and I was MINCHY to all my friends. When we were thinking of a brand name, instantly, MINCHY’S was an instant choice. A short, sweet and catchy name, easy to remember, related to my Family name, and something which proved to be Lucky for us. Today after 33 years of Minchy’s, my Children, Siya and Uday, both are called Minchy by their friends. That is the kind of reach and popularity that Minchy’s as a brand has achieved.
NVN: Can you differentiate Chukh and Chutney. For our readers tell us some of your picks…I mean signature chutneys.
Mr Minocha: Chukh is basically a crushed chilly cooked either in Lemon juice, or in
Brine/mustard extract along with various spices and additives, while a chutney is
generally shredded fruit or vegetables, cooked with sugar or jaggery, salt, and spices to
attain a thick, viscous consistency. A chukh is generally very spicy and tangy, while a
chutney would have a refreshing, sweet-sour taste.
Some of my personal favourites are Qi Tomato chutney, Pahari Mirch, Garlic-Gandiali
Pickle, Yam Pickle, and Red Chilly Chukh. I am not saying that the rest of pickles are not
very good, or that these are to only ones worth eating. It is just that my taste bud
receptors are happy when I eat these pickles and chutneys.
NVN: What are these wellness oils all about? What are the health benefits of these oils?
Mr Minocha: When we talk about wellness oils we are referring to cold pressed oils
extracted using traditional wooden expellers from the wild berries and seeds available in
the Himnalayan region which have special medicinal benefits like:
1. Wild Apricot oil – With Vitamin E content 4 times more than Almond oil.
2. Wild Walnut oil – known to be exceptionally beneficial for hair fall/hair growth and to treat certain skin related ailments such as eczema and psoriasis etc. It is also known to do wonders for heart and brain health.
3. Wild hazelnut oil – also known as Thangi oil. This oil is a lightweight oil with great nourishing properties for the skin and is a known antioxidant.
4. Seabuckthron oil – This is a serum oil extracted by an advanced critical CO2 extraction technology. This berry is found in the cold deserts of the Himalayan Region. It has anti-ageing properties due to high anti-oxidant content in this oil, it is also anti-inflammatory and has great medical potential.
NVN: I found a lot of Minchy’s products on Buckthorn like Buckthorn Tea, Buckthorn Crush, Buckthorn Jam and Buckthorn oil. What is this Buckthorn ?
Mr Minocha: Sea buckthorn is a hardy shrub native to the cold regions of Europe and Asia. In India, it grows naturally in the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas, particularly in Ladakh, Kinnaur, Spiti, and Lahaul of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
It is a Nutritional Powerhouse, rich in vitamins (A, C, E, and K), omega fatty acids (3, 6, 7, and 9), antioxidants, and amino acids and due to high Vitamin C it also strengthens the immune system. This in turn promotes heart health, has anti-ageing properties and is good for the gut. The various products that we deal in are :
Minchy’s Sea buckthorn Products
1. Sea buckthorn Berry Oil
Sea buckthorn berry oil is a golden elixir extracted from the nutrient-dense berries of the Sea buckthorn plant. Known for its anti-inflammatory, regenerative, and healing properties, this oil is a skincare marvel that hydrates, nourishes, and repairs the skin, making it a natural solution for acne, scars, and aging signs. Packed with rare omega-7, vitamins, and antioxidants, it also supports internal health by improving gut lining, immunity, and overall vitality.
2. Sea buckthorn Crush (Drink)
Sea buckthorn Crush is a refreshing and tangy beverage crafted from the vibrant orange berries of the Sea buckthorn plant. This nutrient-rich drink is a delicious way to fuel your day, delivering a burst of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in every sip. Its natural blend of sweet and sour Flavors makes it a perfect health drink, boosting energy, enhancing immunity, and promoting overall wellness.
3. Sea Buckthorn Tea: Dried Berry Tea Sea buckthorn berry tea is a warm, soothing infusion made from dried Sea buckthorn berries. This herbal tea combines a unique citrusy flavour with potent health benefits. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and anti-inflammatory compounds, it detoxifies the body,
boosts immunity, and revitalizes the skin. Enjoy it as a comforting, caffeine-free beverage to unwind and rejuvenate.
NVN: What is your future plan to take the company further. Are you venturing into any
other food products apart from what you have right now?
Mr Minocha: Minchy’s as a brand has grown organically in the last 32 years and I feel that now is the time to spread one’s wings and soar using various growth and expansion methods different from a steady organic growth. In the next couple of years, we are targeting various investors and venture capitalists to join hands with Minchy’s so that the growth of the company is no longer restricted by constraints that we have faced in the past. Also, we are getting a lot of technical and skilled workforce on board so as to ensure a more professional functioning of the organising resulting in a streamlined growth in the longer run. We are also looking at joint ventures with companies from around the world to infuse technology and investment and to export finished goods. To Answer the second part of your question, innovations and New product development is an ongoing process for which we have a separate division. We keep adding products based on market scenarios and growth opportunities.
NVN: Do you have presence in the online market or only offline?
Mr Minocha: We have our own website along with a strong online presence on various platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart etc. We ship our products pan India. We also encourage online engagement with customers through our social media pages on Instagram and Facebook.
NVN: Thanks Mr Minocha for talking to NVN and we wish your future endeavors.
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