With expansive facilities and bold new recipes, Cafe Spice is cooking up the future of convenient cuisine
Co-founded in 1998 by entrepreneurial father-and-son partnership, Sushil and Sameer Malhotra, Cafe Spice has grown to become the nation’s leading provider of authentic Indian ready meals and side dishes. What began as a small New York bistro soon evolved into a thriving manufacturer serving wholesalers and retailers, but it was in 2003, when the pair landed a partnership with Whole Foods, that the business really skyrocketed to success.
As Chief Operating Officer, Virgilio Felix, explains, the company was founded on a desire to make authentic Indian cuisine accessible in the home. “After five years of making it on their own, Sushil and Sameer started working with major national retailers,” he says. “When their products became available in Whole Foods across the country, the founders decided to expand their range — this included hot bar meal solutions and ready meals. The new product offering really took off, and Cafe Spice soon became a national favorite.”
Today, Cafe Spice continues to expand its footprint, operating two USDA-regulated facilities in New York’s Hudson Valley. From these locations, the company delivers a wide range of services, from microwaveable meals to corporate catering. As Virgilio affirms: “We offer a diverse selection of fresh and frozen meals rooted in quality, authenticity, and culinary innovation. Our retail meals come in a range of sizes, but our most popular products are 16oz portions that can be split between two people. They are ready-to-eat, quick-and-easy weeknight dinners that simply require heating up at home.” He continues: “We also offer a bulk food service, supplying hot bar catering to event coordinators and managers organizing large corporate gatherings. Additionally, we have a lot of non-commercial business in colleges, universities, and hospitals across the US. This offering is very similar to our bulk food service, just operating on a more regular basis. Finally, we provide private label and co-manufacturing services to produce a variety of products under different brand identities.”
Investing in technology
Over the years, Cafe Spice has gained a reputation as one of the industry’s most reliable manufacturing partners. This is in part due to the company’s cutting-edge new facility, which boasts some of the most advanced machinery available today. The company invested in growing its operational footprint in 2022 and has reaped the rewards ever since. As Virgilio details: “We started construction on a new 70,000-square-foot facility in Beacon, New York, about three years ago. Construction went smoothly, and the unit was fully operational by December of 2023. Designed with automation at its core, the new facility continues to support our long-term growth and expansion goals.
“Incorporating conveyor fryers, automated cookers, robotic systems, and spiral chillers was no small accomplishment. The factory was meticulously designed to integrate top-of-the-range technology with usability and safety. It supports our existing facility, based in New Windsor, by providing additional capacity and, with the added technology, specialized capabilities.
“Strategically growing our manufacturing network in this way allows us to meet customer demand while maintaining efficiency, consistency, and quality. It represents a major step forward for Cafe Spice.
“Now that the new facility has been operational for nearly two years, we’re considering what the next step might be. There’s still a lot of room to scale and grow our
operation. With enhanced capabilities, we have the potential to grow our product offering and adopt different types of packaging formats.”
From concept to commercial product
Maintaining a diverse product range, complete with beloved classics and exciting new options, is one of Cafe Spice’s top priorities. To ensure a steady supply of authentic world cuisines, the company invests heavily in research and development (R&D).
“We have an in-house R&D team, which combines culinary expertise with key customer insights. One part of our mission is to collaborate with top chefs from across the world. As specialists in a range of global delicacies, these culinary experts help us bring fusion and innovation to our product offering.
“Our Culinary Ambassador is Hari Nayak, a renowned chef and author. He’s worked in numerous high-end restaurants and remains highly involved in the day-to-day operations of our team. Every product is regularly tested for taste, nutrition, and scalability.
“In addition to working with chefs, we also conduct regular market research. By reaching out to our customers and working closely with them, we’re able to offer a more tailored solution. We can tweak our products and directly respond to feedback. This way, we create a product that everybody’s happy with.
“We even have a dedicated testing kitchen and in-house lab, which means we’re able to turn new concepts into commercial products exceptionally fast. This helps keep us ahead of market trends and shows our customer base that we’re really listening to their needs,” Virgilio reveals.
One of the company’s latest innovations is a range of Latin-inspired ready meals. This exciting new product range will launch under the company’s Cantina Latina brand in early 2026. As Virgilio enthuses: “We can’t wait to show everyone what we’ve been working on.
“We’ve been focused on expanding our range to include additional global cuisines for some time. This product offering reflects all that hard work and dedication. We’ve kept our standards high and produced something bold and flavorful – that combines convenience with exceptional taste.
“We also continue to prioritize authenticity. Our R&D team has infused these dishes with traditional ingredients and cooking methods. The result is really special.”
As 2025 comes to a close, Cafe Spice is gearing up for its next chapter. In addition to launching its new range of mouthwatering ready meals, the company will be laying the foundations for even further expansion.
“Wherever the journey takes us next, Cafe Spice will remain dedicated to producing delicious meals inspired by global cuisine. Authenticity and quality are at the heart of what we do, and we’ll always carry that with us,” he concludes.