In Bhavnagar, Gujarat, two entrepreneurs saw an opportunity in a growing global interest in natural, organic and plant-based products. In 2009, Dr. Valanki and Mr. Solanki founded Earth Expo Company (EEC), beginning with a small export operation focused on quality natural and organic products. More than a decade later, the company has developed into a broader manufacturing, processing and export business serving customers across international markets.
From spices and herbs to oils, extracts, dehydrated vegetables, tea, Ayurveda, nutraceuticals and natural beauty products, Earth Expo Company has built its business around products derived from natural and agricultural resources. Its journey reflects the evolution of India’s natural-products sector—from supplying raw and processed ingredients to developing finished products, private-label solutions and contract manufacturing capabilities.
From an Export Idea to Earth Expo Company
According to the company’s account, the journey began when the two founders developed an interest in the export of natural and organic products. Their initial portfolio included organic oils and butter, herbal products, extracts, spices, dried vegetables, tea and infusions, and organic cosmetics.
Earth Expo Company was incorporated in 2009 with the aim of tapping into the international demand for non-GMO, organic and quality products. The business initially operated on a small scale, serving a limited number of overseas customers.The early response from customers became an important turning point. According to EEC, positive feedback on its products and services encouraged the founders to increase production capacity and expand their export capabilities. What began as a small export venture gradually evolved into a business with its own processing and manufacturing infrastructure.
Building a Business Around Natural Products
As the company grew, so did its product portfolio.
Today, Earth Expo Company works across several categories, including spices and masala, herbs and extracts, dry and dehydrated products, oils and oilseeds, tea and infusions, Ayurveda and nutraceuticals, and cosmetics and natural beauty products.
The expansion was not limited to adding more products. The company also began developing capabilities across different stages of the supply chain—from sourcing and processing to formulation, manufacturing, packaging and export.
This shift allowed EEC to move beyond the role of an exporter and develop into a manufacturing partner for businesses looking to create natural, organic and plant-based products for different markets.
From Ingredients to Finished Products
One of the significant developments in EEC’s journey has been its move into contract manufacturing and private-label production.
The company offers OEM and private-label manufacturing across areas including food, spices, cold-pressed oils, Ayurveda, nutraceuticals and cosmetics. Its services can include raw ingredients, research and development, formulation, packaging and branding, allowing customers to develop products without establishing their own manufacturing infrastructure.
Its manufacturing portfolio includes products in different formats such as tablets, capsules, syrups, churna, oils, creams, lotions, gels and other external preparations. The company also operates production sections for spices and seasoning, organic herbal products and cold-pressed oils.
This expansion represents an important stage in the company’s journey: the business that began by exporting natural products gradually developed the capabilities to help other companies create and take their own natural and wellness products to market.
Building the Infrastructure Behind the Business
The growth of Earth Expo Company has also involved investment in processing and manufacturing infrastructure.
The company states that it has approximately 18,000 square feet of built-up area dedicated to production and processing of customised products for national and international customers. Its facilities include separate production and warehouse areas, along with equipment for drying, freeze-drying, sorting, grading, pulverising, sterilisation, metal detection and packaging. Laboratory facilities are used for analysing batches and lots.
Its manufacturing facilities in Gujarat cover Ayurveda and nutraceuticals, cosmetics and natural beauty, spices and masala, herbs and extracts, dry and dehydrated products, oils and oilseeds, and tea and infusions. The company states that these facilities support OEM, private-label and other manufacturing arrangements.
For a business built around agricultural and natural ingredients, this infrastructure is particularly important. Processing can determine how raw materials are preserved, transformed and prepared for different applications and markets.
Organic Production and Traceability
Organic production has remained an important part of EEC’s stated business model.
The company says it works with certified organic raw materials, semi-finished products and finished products under programmes and standards including NPOP, USDA Organic, JAS and EU Organic. It also describes a traceability system designed to track lots from the farm through to the finished product and says it follows GFSI and FSMA modules for international requirements.
Contract farming is another part of its model, particularly for USDA and EU organic products. By connecting agricultural sourcing with processing and export, the company has sought to create greater control over the journey of its products from raw material to finished goods.
Quality as the Business Expanded
As Earth Expo Company’s customer base grew internationally, quality and compliance became increasingly important.
The company states that its quality-control procedures extend from procurement of raw materials through processing and dispatch. It conducts chemical, microbiological and heavy-metal analysis through in-house and third-party laboratories and says its production staff follow HACCP and cGMP systems.
Its published certifications and credentials include BRC, USDA Organic, EU Organic, JAS Organic, FSSAI, USFDA, Kosher, Halal and ISO 22716:2007 Cosmetic GMP, among others.
These systems have become part of the company’s strategy for working with customers who require products that meet different regulatory and quality standards across international markets.
From Gujarat to Global Markets
Exporting has remained central to Earth Expo Company’s journey since its founding.
The company lists customers and markets across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, including countries such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Spain, South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco, Thailand and Singapore.
Its role in international trade extends beyond manufacturing. The company highlights customs and logistics support, export documentation, factory container stuffing, shipment assistance and quality and weight certificates as part of its export capabilities.
This is significant for a Gujarat-based business working with agricultural and natural products. The journey from a locally based exporter to an international manufacturing partner requires more than products—it requires processing systems, quality controls, regulatory knowledge and an understanding of different markets.
Growing Beyond the Original Business Model
Perhaps the most notable part of Earth Expo Company’s journey is how its business model has evolved.
The founders began with an interest in exporting natural and organic products. Over time, the company expanded its product categories, developed processing infrastructure, added research and development capabilities and entered contract manufacturing and private-label production.
Its R&D operations now work on formulations across different dosage and application formats, including capsules, tablets, powders, syrups, oils, creams, gels and lotions. The company also states that its formulation-development team works with customers to create products according to specific requirements and standards.
The evolution reflects a wider shift in the natural-products industry. As consumers and businesses seek products based on herbs, spices, plant oils, natural ingredients and traditional wellness systems, companies operating in this space increasingly need to combine agricultural sourcing with science, manufacturing and regulatory expertise.
The Plantpreneur Journey
For Dr. Valanki and Mr. Solanki, the journey of Earth Expo Company began with an opportunity they identified in the export of natural and organic products.
The business has since grown into a company that brings together agricultural sourcing, processing, manufacturing, research, quality control and international trade.
Its story also illustrates how India’s natural-products sector can move beyond the export of raw commodities. By adding processing, formulation and manufacturing capabilities, businesses can create greater value around agricultural and plant-based resources while serving markets with different product and regulatory requirements.
From a small operation serving a handful of overseas customers in 2009 to a Gujarat-based business with international markets and manufacturing capabilities, Earth Expo Company’s journey has been one of gradual expansion—built around natural products, quality systems and the founders’ original focus on taking Indian products to global markets.
For the natural-products industry, the story offers a glimpse into how an entrepreneurial idea can evolve when sourcing, manufacturing and global demand come together.
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