Pravin Masalewale

Our workshop is at Plot No.44 inside the Hadapsar Industrial Estate. This part of Hadapsar is always humming with the sound of factories and machines. We have been here for a while, focusing on masale. Because it is an industrial estate, we are surrounded by all kinds of other businesses, from metal shops to packaging units. It is not the prettiest place to work, but it is practical for what we do. We have enough space for the grinding machines and the storage for the whole spices. The morning starts with unloading the sacks of raw materials. Then the machines start up, and they stay running for most of the shift. It gets quite loud, so we have to talk loudly to hear each other. We don't have a storefront where you can browse; it is strictly a production site. The floor is concrete and usually covered in a fine layer of spice dust. We try to keep it clean, but it is a losing battle most days. Our workers are local people who have been with us for years. We eat lunch together in the small break area. It’s a basic setup that works for us. We don't spend money on fancy signs or marketing. We just make the masala and send it out to the distributors. The light in the back corner flickers sometimes, but we haven't gotten around to changing the bulb yet.