During the projected period (2019-2024), the global market for organic cashew nuts is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 7.5 percent. The demand for organic cashew nuts is expanding primarily as a result of rising interest in organic food items and increased knowledge of their advantages over conventional foods in terms of health. The rise in disposable incomes and the rising health consciousness of consumers are some of the other motivators.
The onset of the global pandemic also gave a massive push to the organic foods segment and inclined more people towards understanding the benefits of organic foods, and the consumption of food items free from fertilizers and pesticides for overall well-being. Based on kind, form, distribution channel, and geography, the industry for organic cashew nuts is capable of being divided into submarkets. Whole cashew nuts, cashew bits, and cashew butter are the three types of cashews available on the organic cashew nut market.
Achal Org, a passion project established in 1996 supports Indian cashew farmers from Goa and Maharashtra regions and promotes sustainable cashew farming and harvesting practices for high-quality products. The company with over 26 years of experience in supplying organic cashew has developed a keen eye for excellence across all the products being offered to customers across the globe. The firm promotes conscious living and healthy choices for a balanced lifestyle as well as better environmental conservation, and improved treatment of local farmers, thereby promoting community development.
The Unique Factor
While classified as an organic food brand, Achal Org specializes in the manufacturing and processing of cashew nuts. The organization offers a wide range of products made from cashews to meet the varied needs of the market.
“Our core product is cashew, we know everything about cashew and we are specialists in this particular product because cashew processing is a very specialized process. It’s not like other natural products where you require minimal processing before you get the edible product. And all our flagship products are cashews and cashew-related products. We make value-added products from cashew nuts such as dry roasted cashews, flavored cashews, sweets like kaju kathli, and cashew butter”, shares Anuja Prabhu, Director, Achal Cashews.
The company offers whole cashews available in a lot of varieties in terms of the size of the nuts, cashews split into pieces, dry roasted and salted cashews, and cashew butter which are available in multiple flavors like barbeque, sriracha, pepper, as well as in organic creamy and chunky variations, as well as flavored dry roasted cashews in exciting varieties like masala flavored, red chili flavored, green chili flavored, black pepper flavored, honey flavored, garlic flavored, sriracha flavored, barbeque flavored, and spicy pudina flavored.
The diverse and extensive product range developed over the years has a lot of tongues tingling not only in India but also abroad. This is because, for over 40 years, the Achal Group has been one of the largest Indian exporters of organic and conventional cashews and cashew-based products across the globe.
“We have been exporting cashew kernels since June 1984, with our first consignment going to New York, USA - this was before I was born. Our flagship Achal Org organic project was conceived in 1992 and the first few farms were certified organic in 1996 as it takes three years
for any farm to convert to organic. The full credit for this goes to my father, G Giridhar Prabhu, who envisioned a future for organic more than 25 years before it became mainstream and gradually developed the project to the level it is at now. Over the last 26 years we have been exporting certified organic kernels to countries like Switzerland, Germany, Japan and South Korea.
To ensure complete traceability and to maintain the highest standards of organic certifications, regular inspections and audits are held at both farm and factory level through IMO Control (IMO India) and we hold organic certifications such as EU, NPOP, JAS, KOR and BIOSUISSE. We are equipped to export to any country that requires these certifications for their organic cashew import”, further shares Anuja.
A Notch Ahead
One of the most distinctive factors that set the company apart from the competition is its farm-to-table approach where everything from procurement of raw cashew nuts to the final shipment is undertaken by the group personally without any third-party vendors. The group is currently associated with roughly 6000 farmers who are trained by the team at Achal Org and provided the right materials required to convert their cashew farms into organic cashew farms. The farmers harvest the cashew nuts during the season which is then directly purchased from them by the company. The company’s state-of-the-art infrastructure helps in the processing phase and packaging processes, post which the products are supplied to consumers through various retail and trade channels including sales through proprietary retail shops as well as the brand’s own e-commerce website.
With a legacy going back over 40 years, Achal Org is on a mission to expand awareness about organic food & cashews in India
“We know that it is hard for consumers to know where your food truly comes from. With Achal Org certified organic cashews you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Our cashews are 100 percent certified organic and sourced directly from our own network of 6000+ farmers from the regions of Goa and Maharashtra. These farmers are dedicated to our organic cashew project. From procuring the raw cashew nut at the right time to drying it correctly to storing and processing it, we pay meticulous attention to every part of the supply chain and process all the way to the last grades that come out. So, we ensure quality on all fronts right from getting the best raw material to the final packaging”, further adds Anuja.
Another differentiating factor lies in the level of personal service that the brand offers to clients. The team at Achal takes time to understand the needs of the various clients and uses this knowledge to curate and suggest the relevant product choices for them based on their needs, especially when it comes to customers that need a particular type or variety of cashew nuts for specific purposes like making sweets or using them as garnishes.
The organization is able to achieve this level of excellence across the entire product range with the help of two manufacturing units and all the workers dedicatedly working in them. From the production team to the export team, sales teams, and a strong management team, Achal Org is manned by the best to deliver the best.
Future Plans
With a legacy going back over 40 years, Achal Org is on a mission to expand awareness about organic food and cashews in India. Cashews, which are thought of to be increasing cholesterol levels, are actually a nutritious product that plays no part in increasing a person’s cholesterol levels and cashews have zero cholesterol in them which is proven through accredited lab tests. Studies have even shown that a few cashews a day can be healthy for daily consumption as they contain protein, healthy fats, and energy and are a good source of fiber, manganese, magnesium, and copper. The organization seeks to break the myth that cashews are only a luxury product and intends to promote it for its actual health benefits.
Additionally, the firm is working on increasing awareness about organic foods in India. Over 90 percent of the produce generated by Achal is exported abroad despite being a completely Indian product right from raw materials to the final packaged product. The firm aspires to make the Indian audiences more aware of the product and increase the market interest in the product locally as this would also help the farmers. The group also wants to inspire Indian consumers to opt for more organic products by understanding the various benefits that organic farming brings with it. Achal Org is devising new ways to get consumers excited about organic foods, especially cashews. In the coming years, the firm aims to become a household name and with the dedicated efforts of the entire team, it is only a matter of time before these aspirations turn into reality.
Anuja Prabhu, Director
Anuja Prabhu is the youngest daughter of G Giridhar Prabhu who founded the business with his father Sadanand Prabhu in the early 1980s. She has a background in Marketing and Communications and joined the family business in January 2021. She primarily handles the organic project and export business of Achal and is the Director of the manufacturing unit located in Maharashtra.
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