Spice Pots is a premium Indian spice blend company based in East Lothian, Scotland. Their mission is to help people make consistently delicious curry and Indian-inspired food at home with their clever shortcuts and simple recipes. Their spice blends are 100% natural and feature a variety of spice collections and gift sets. We spoke to founder Melanie Auld about what it's like to run the business and her experience with Product Guru.
When was your company formed? Where are you based? What do you produce?
Spice Pots was born in 2014 from my home kitchen in East Lothian, in Scotland. It's our mission to make it easy for busy people to cook healthy Indian food at home and to give the gift of cooking with our extensive gift range.
After a career organising high profile events in London, I moved back to rural Scotland to start a family. After the arrival of 3 sons in quick succession, my curry making skills, learned in Madras in 1993, were challenged by a lack of time so I came up with a short cut, later to be launched as Spice Pots. We are on mission to help you make quick, healthy curry at home. Our 100% natural spice blends, clever short cuts and simple recipes, will transform your curry cooking.
After a career organising high profile events in London, I moved back to rural Scotland to start a family. After the arrival of 3 sons in quick succession, my curry making skills, learned in Madras in 1993, were challenged by a lack of time so I came up with a short cut, later to be launched as Spice Pots. We are on mission to help you make quick, healthy curry at home. Our 100% natural spice blends, clever short cuts and simple recipes, will transform your curry cooking.
How many people work for the business?
We are a team of 4 and we work from a sunny office in Haddington, in East Lothian. Dogs are welcome and Pixie, Mel's black lab is a regular visitor!
Who do you sell to?
Who do you sell to?
We sell our blends and gift range via a number of wholesale partners in the UK and Ireland to independent farm shops and garden centres, We also sell via Lakeland and WW (formerly Weight Watchers). Our products are widely available online including Notonthehighstreet and Etsy too.
Is there a specific product or aspect of your business you're particularly proud of and why?
I love the people aspect of the business most of all! I love pitching, meeting new people, collaborating with other small businesses. I hadn't realised how much I had missed that over lockdown!
When you’re not working, what do you enjoy doing?
I'm lucky enough to live near the beach so I run with my beloved dog Pixie; I regularly swim in the sea and the rest of the time is spent with my husband and 3 gorgeous teenage boys.
What are your thoughts on Product Guru (and our events)?
The Product Guru platform has been fantastic for our brand. We've been introduced to some top level buyers and they are changing the way small brands do business - no more trade shows for me!
