India’s beloved spice makers, MDH and Everest, have come under scrutiny following a sales ban imposed in Hong Kong due to the discovery of a cancer-causing pesticide in some of their products. This scrutiny has extended to various countries, including the United States, the Maldives, India, and Australia, although both brands assert the safety of their products.
Here are key facts and background information on these iconic Indian spice brands:
MDH (Mahashian Di Hatti):
Founded in 1919, MDH is a family-run business based in New Delhi.
The brand gained widespread popularity through advertisements and packaging featuring its founder, Dharampal Gulati, known as India’s “Spice King,” who passed away in 2020.
MDH offers 62 products, including grounded spices and spice blends developed after extensive research.
It operates five factories and distributes its products in India and various international markets such as Australia, the United States, Europe, Canada, and the United Kingdom through a vast network of over 400,000 retail dealers.
MDH reported a revenue of $260 million for the fiscal year 2022-2023.
Everest:
Everest Food Products was established in 1967 with just three products by its founder, Vadilal Bhai Shah, who began his business in a small 200 square feet spice shop.
Today, Everest boasts a portfolio of 52 products and has a global presence in approximately 80 countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific, and Africa.
Its products are utilized by around 20 million households daily, with 3.7 billion packs sold annually. Everest products are available in 620,000 outlets across 1,000 small towns and cities in India.
Bollywood icons Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan serve as brand ambassadors for Everest, appearing in numerous TV commercials to promote its products, particularly those used in making the famous rice dish, biryani.
Everest reported net sales of $365 million for the fiscal year 2022-2023.
