Apeksha Jain started The Gourmet Jar in 2012 with premium jams and clean-label condiments. The problem? India wasn’t buying that kind of food yet. Growth was painfully slow for years.
In this episode, Apeksha shares what it’s really like to be early to a market. From teaching French to running factories in Noida’s industrial areas, her journey is about conviction, patience, and pushing through when quitting seemed easier.
What we cover:
The accidental path from French teacher to food entrepreneur
Landing the Oberoi Hotels contract that changed everything
Why being a woman running a factory in India came with unique challenges
Building premium products before “clean label” was even a thing
The self-doubt and imposter syndrome that almost stopped her
How she evolved from pink polka dots to transparent bottles
Waiting years for the market to catch up to her vision
Why Indian gourmet brands are ready to compete globally
This isn’t a story about overnight success. It’s about building something
when nobody understands what you’re doing yet, and having the guts to keep going anyway.
If you’ve ever felt too early, too different, or doubted whether you could actually pull it off, this one’s for you.
About Apeksha Jain:
Founder & CEO of The Gourmet Jar, one of India’s leading premium condiment brands now available across quick commerce and retail nationwide.
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Drop a comment if you’ve ever built something the market wasn’t ready for yet.
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