Andhra Pickles

FAIRYTALE BEGINNINGLAKSHMI'S GONGURA- A SUCCESS STORY OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIPExcerpts from article published in THE HINDU , 8 March 2013 (Women's day)titled -'Lakshmi's Gongura - A success Story of Social Entrepreneurship'"There is only one most beautiful baby, and every mother has it", said the famous philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurthy. He was referring to the recipe of Avakai. And this 'secret' of making pure, authentic and delicious pickles thus passes on for generations.Lakshmi's Gongura - The Traditional House of Andhra Pickles and Podis, the business that she founded a little over two years ago in a small way has come a long way, and is poised to scale new heights.The beginning was almost like a fairytale as with all spectacular success stories, nurtured of course by hard work and commitment to a 'vision' and purpose. When asked on how it all started, she smiles unassumingly and quotes Madam C.J. Walker, the famous American entrepreneur and philanthropist, "I got my start by giving myself a start."Her aged mother who used to herself make a mouth watering variety pickles and podis (spice and masala powders) once upon a time was longing for that unique old nostalgic experience' of savouring traditionally made healthy and tasty Aavakai. The constant stream of visiting North Indian friends of her husband, a senior bureaucrat in the Central Government, longed for original 'South Indian' Aaachars and Masala powders, and not those off-the shelf ones available everywhere that "taste like chemicals", she quotes them.WHAT WE AREAuthenticity is not just a concern but our obsession. We do not compromise on our cherished Andhra tradition of pickle and spice making that is also rooted in the ancient time tested Indian science of Ayurveda.It is the 'Original taste of tradition' that sets Gongura apart from the rest. These are the differentiators"(1) No artificial preservatives of colours are added(2) Ingredients like chilies are the purest obtained from native Guntur and Vijayawada in A.P(3) They are prepared by traditional cooks in hygienic conditions(4) The focus is on health and nutritive value apart from delicious homemade taste.Gongura is founded in its vision to be the best in taste and tradition and a benchmark in originality. It also has a social cause. 10% of its Net profit is pledged to public charitable Trusts and NGOs in India that work in the area of healthcare of children from economically weaker sections of the society. NGOs in the field of animal rescue and welfare are also in our ambit of corporate social responsibility.