Since we are starting production of the above in US by April in our new plant, our team went around Different retail outlets like Whole foods, Central Market, Trader Joe etc and we collected a number of sauces,like Tikka Masala, Vindaloo ,Coconut curry and so on from the stores.
This was to find out what sort of players are there in the areana where we are entering and what is their quality.
Maya Kaimal, Spicy Nothing, and couple of others who are in main stream market, were found to adorn the shelves.
Today, we received the biggest shock when we tasted and tested each variety.
I was shocked that Maya Kaimal's Tikka Masala, tastes like Panipuri water .Her coconut curry was a very small consolation and Vindaloo by another player was a rude shock.
I would like to know views of our US members in this regard.
If this is the competition I am pitted against, then actually it won't be a competition at all.
US, I am coming with my RTE sauces and gravies and Maslas. Look out. !!
TLG, I rarely pick up ready made sauces, pastes because never found them good enough to use second time. Our local American grocery stores have stocked few brands of sauces and pastes for popular Indian dishes but they are very expensive and I doubt any Indian buys them? They are expensive and go on for sale after few months due to low sale.
In Indian grocery stores dry masala powder packets are sold more than these ready made curry sauces. In recent years frozen ready to eat food is selling more, our Indian stores have added many quality refrigerators like American super markets.
You will need to do strong advertising to let people know goodness in your products. It is not question of competition but convincing desi/videsi buyers to buy your products because of authenticity and good taste.
In NC we have this Kerala curry Company. Around 8 years back they had very few products, I remember getting Can of payasam but we didn't buy it second time. As of now I see they have added lot of products..I have not tried any of them because none of the Indian store stock them. Few years back I had tried their canned Rasam, it was very good...but it was sold in Indian store for very short time. Check their products.
