Recently, Sanjay and Shashi had the opportunity to attend The Great British Pitch India at Number 11 Downing Street, with Sanjay invited to speak as a keynote speaker. For a business that started around a family kitchen table, it was one of those moments that felt both surreal and deeply meaningful.
Spice Kitchen began in 2012 as a retirement hobby for Shashi. Having spent decades cooking for family and friends, she wanted a way to share the flavours and recipes she had grown up with in India. What started as a small idea soon became something much bigger.
Today, Spice Kitchen products can be found in homes, gift shops and kitchens across the UK and beyond, but at its heart the business remains the same. It's still built around family, food and the belief that spices have an incredible ability to bring people together.
The Great British Pitch India celebrates the growing relationship between the UK and India and the role that entrepreneurship can play in creating opportunities, innovation and cultural exchange. As someone whose family story spans both countries, speaking at the event felt particularly special for Sanjay.
One of the themes he explored was the power of storytelling in business. Behind every product is a story. Behind every entrepreneur is a journey. In our case, that journey starts with a mother who loved to cook and a son who recognised that her knowledge, recipes and passion deserved a wider audience.
Food is often one of the most accessible ways we connect with different cultures. A single spice blend can carry generations of family history, memories and traditions. That's something we've always tried to celebrate through our products and our work.
The day was also a reminder of the importance of small businesses within the wider economy. Across the UK, thousands of family-run businesses are creating jobs, supporting communities and bringing new ideas to life. Events like this shine a light on the people behind those businesses and the challenges and opportunities they face.
For us, attending Number 11 wasn't about reaching a destination. It was another step in an ongoing journey that continues to evolve every year.
We left feeling incredibly grateful. Grateful for the customers who have supported us over the years. Grateful for the opportunities we've been given. And grateful for the chance to represent not just Spice Kitchen, but the many small family businesses that work hard every day to turn an idea into something meaningful.
Most of all, it reminded us why we started: to share great food, celebrate culture and bring people together through the simple joy of cooking.