The pickling process has been around for over 4000 years and some sources indicate that the average person in India consumes 4kg of pickles in a year. Pickles/achaars are a requisite and delicious component of an Indian meal and they not only ace in taste but also in health benefits.
Pickles are known to boost our immunity. Improve digestion, be rich in vitamins and minerals, etc.
This is the story of Yachika Chopra, the woman who decided to convert her mother’s dream into a reality.
Yachika was stumbling around her late mother’s journals when she discovered various recipes for pickles. She then made small batches of pickles using her mother’s recipe and shared the same with her friends and family. She received a lot of love and encouragement in return which lead to her making some more.
“A start-up is like a newborn child,” says Yachika. She studied the in-depth science behind pickles and did everything like deciding the name of the business, logos, etc herself.
Yachika finally selected a beautiful brand name “Circa Pickles” which is a wordplay of the word ‘sirka’ (Hindi name for vinegar) and ‘circa’ (ancient dates). “Circa is a homegrown artisanal pickle brand drawing inspiration from 3 generations of old family recipes, bringing a pop of flavour right to your doorstep,” says Yachika.
She decided to invest in a pop-up stall in a local garden market. She took a total 35 jars comprising two flavours and by the end of the day, each and every jar was sold out. This assured Yachika that she was on the right path and should continue to face all the challenges till she achieves success.
Yachika never had any business background and had to learn everything about accounting, pricing, marketing, etc herself. She realized how customers were apprehensive to try out a new brand and how difficult it is to understand consumer behavior. Yachika is still on the journey to understand the same in totality. “Each day I continue to learn something new. Learning is an ongoing process and I am glad this venture has broadened my horizons to grasp so much knowledge that is there” says Yachika.
Circa pickles started out with just one flavour and now they have 8 different flavours which are all unique and taste different. Some of their flavours include burnt garlic pickles, carrot & cauliflower pickles, and brinjal & curry leaves pickles.
All these flavours are made by a female production team without the use of any preservatives and are 100% natural. Circa aims to have its own farm to grow its own vegetables which would also generate more employment. Yachika wishes to employ women, widows, and absolutely anyone who needs support.
In the end, Yachika just wishes to put out one message to other startups to have patience in their life. She says as I quote “Business isn’t an instant coffee do. It takes time, hard work, and absolute dedication”
You can order from Circa Pickles is based in goa and you can order from Circa via https://www.eatcirca.com/product-category/pickle/
