Anila’s Authentic Sauces

05.09.2005 / News & Mail

South East Food Matters:

Anila Vaghela, of Anila’s Authentic Sauces, is celebrating her success at the Great Taste Awards held at the Olympia Conference Centre on 5th September.

Anila won gold award for her chilli chutney and the tindori (mini-gherkin) pickle, which also received the accolade of Best Speciality from the South-East.

Anila said:

“It was fantastic receiving the gold awards, especially for the tindori pickle, which has had glowing reviews from my customers all year. But when it went on to win the Speciality Award for the South East I was overwhelmed and then really pleased. The judges remarks were highly complimentary and reflected the hard work I have put in.”

The awards come hot on the heels of an exclusive contract to supply Harrods with her Goan green curry sauce. It’s all a far cry from the early days of the business when Anila was making curry sauces from her home for friends and colleagues at work. Working by day as a medical secretary and spending evenings and weekends cooking, Anila might never have had the courage to start her business full-time if she hadn’t been made redundant in 1997.

The business soon outgrew Anila’s kitchen and its first business unit and is now located in a large production unit in Hounslow.

The location is ideal for Anila who starts each day at a nearby meditation centre before sourcing her ingredients at the International Market in Southall. Working in a clam and peaceful atmosphere is crucial to Anila and her staff, which is why her labels bear the message ‘handmade with love and harmony.’

Anila’s product range now includes seven curry sauces, seven pickles and four chutneys. All are made from fresh ingredients, are free from artificial colours and preservatives and contain no gluten, dairy, onion or garlic. Anila finds that she sells many of her products to vegans and people with allergies and intolerance.

By selling at farmer’s markets, Anila gets useful feedback from customers, which has helped her to develop new products. Her range is also available at Fortnum and Mason and other independent stores, delicatssens, farm shops, food shows and by mail order.