How to Start Pre cut Vegetable Business

Friends, if you want to start a daily need, easy and good business, then you can start a business by washing, cutting and packing fruits and vegetables properly from home. Yes, in today’s fast-paced life of people, people prefer to buy cut vegetables and fruits to save time. Due to this, the demand for fresh and ready-to-use packed pre cut vegetable business is growing rapidly. And, especially the demand for these pre cut fruits and vegetable  is increasingly relied upon by everyone from housewives in metropolitan cities to hotels, online grocery shopping platforms and food chains. Yes, according to market trends, the packed fresh fruits and vegetables market in India is growing by 10 to 12% annually. So, in this article, we will guide you step by step on how to start pre cut vegetable business.

Know the Business

Friends, before starting thispre cut vegetable business, it is important to know how long different vegetables last after being packed and at what temperature they should be stored. Generally, vegetables stay fresh in the refrigerator for 7 to 10 days, depending on their nature, although not all vegetables are. At the same time, leafy vegetables require high humidity, while others can be kept fresh at 2 to 8°C in ventilated packaging, thus avoiding gas formation. However, this is only an assumption, so it is better to do research to know the actual period.

Required Equipments

To start this business on a small scale, you will initially need small hand-held choppers, vegetable and fruit cutting machines, packing machines, digital weighing machines, chillers and food grade stainless steel tables, which you can buy from local machinery markets and online portals like Indiamart, TradeIndia. Also, the prices of these vary depending on the functions and the price is subject to change at any time.

Raw Material Sourcing

In terms of raw materials, you will need a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits daily. Also, this will vary daily depending on your location or your market demand. So, you can buy vegetables and fruits fresh daily directly from local farmers, wholesale vegetable sellers or farmers markets. In particular, buying directly from farmers will maintain freshness and quality and reduce your cost.

How Much Investment Needed

Friends, the investment required to start this business on a small scale in the initial stage is Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1 lakh to buy machinery, raw materials, packaging materials, etc. At the same time, if you want to do this business on a larger scale with automated machinery, you may need an investment of Rs. 2 to 5 lakh. However, as we said earlier, the machinery prices are only an estimate, so the investment amount may change at any time.

Required Business Registrations

Now let us discuss what licenses you will need to start this business. Firstly, FSSAI license is mandatory for any food related business in India. Secondly, you will also need to take a trade license issued by the municipality or gram panchayat to run this as a small factory business. Thirdly, you will need to register for GST if you have a turnover of more than 20 lakhs per annum. Fourthly, if you are creating your own brand, you can choose a trademark for the brand as per your choice. Finally, it is better to transact as an MSME to avail government schemes and loans.

How Much Space will be Required

Friends, the best part of this business is that you can start it in a small room of 100 to 150 square feet in your house. Or if you want to set up a big unit, you can even rent a small space of 300 to 500 square feet. Also, there should be separate sections like washing & cleaning section, cutting and processing section, packaging and labeling section, cold storage section and cleanliness and hygiene should be taken care of in it.

Production Process and Packaging

Friends, first of all, you need to wash and clean the purchased raw fruits and vegetables thoroughly using RO-filtered water. Next, you need to remove any spoiled or overripe items from them. Now, you can cut them manually in the desired sizes of your customer, although you can do this faster by using a machine. After this process, you need to pack the cut fruits and vegetables in good quality food grade plastic bags or containers and vacuum pack them. Then, most importantly, print the MRP, pack date, expiry and FSSAI license number on them and immediately store them in the refrigerator at the optimum temperature to maintain their freshness.

Where Can You Sell

There are many great ways you can sell these cut fruits and vegetables. Firstly, you can sell your cut fruits and vegetables by approaching local greengrocers, supermarkets, housing societies, gyms, restaurants. Secondly, approach all the hotels, restaurants, canteens, cloud kitchens and food delivery brands in your city and get large orders from them. You are likely to get recurring business from there as well. Finally, you can sell them by partnering with online grocery delivery platforms like Zepto, Blinkit, BigBasket and Swiggy Instamart.

Get best price at Indiamart for:

Vegetable and Fruit Cutting Machine –  https://IndiaMART.in/v/BEWOvNXG

Kitchen Chopper – https://IndiaMART.in/v/q28dDjdV

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