Mandira owns and runs Mandira's Kitchen, which produces artisan Indian freezer meals. She was picked from hundreds of applicants competing for a life changing contract to stock Aldi stores nationwide.
Hosted by Anita Rani, of Countryfile and BBC Radio 4 and Chris Bavin, of Britain's Best Home Cook and Eat Well for Less, the six-part series sees suppliers compete in categories like dinners, baked goods, treats and store cupboard essentials.
Products are presented to Julie Ashfield, who is Aldi UKs MD of buying, who deliberates on factors like price, packaging, shopper demand, and the ability to scale up, before whittling contestants down to only two.
The finalists are then given a month to deal with any feedback, before presenting improved products to Julie who decides which product will appear as a Specialbuy in over 970 Aldi branches throughout the UK.
Mandira, who launched the business as a supper club in her kitchen and now employs 16 women, says: “Food is a very emotive thing and we cook all our meals with a lot of love. Everything is made from scratch, with fresh ingredients. There are absolutely no cans or jars.
“I think it's high time people in the UK are able to easily enjoy authentic Indian food at home, and a contract with Aldi would help us realise this ambition.”
The multi-category competition is part of Aldi's ongoing commitment to use locally sourced products. Aldi has pledged to prioritise home-grown suppliers as it works towards spending an additional £3.5 billion a year with British businesses by the end of 2025.
To find out if Mandira made it on to Aldi's shelves watch Aldi's Next Big Thing on Channel 4, every Thursday at 8pm until 24th November.
You can already purchase meals from Mandira, including authentic ice cream for UK-wide delivery at her website https://www.mandiraskitchen.com.
Readers will be please to learn that Mandira and her staff already have Christmas covered for you. There are special festive foods, gift vouchers, Christmas gifts and tableware.
They can also cater for events, too, so please do get in touch with them.
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