Little Italy’s gourmet grocery label, Acasa, has revealed the introduction of fresh production lines through a newly established facility in Pune. This factory will be dedicated to crafting an array of products including pasta, bread, sauces, and cheese. Acasa is renowned for its innovative approach, offering do-it-yourself kits, distinctive sauces, premium cheeses, and freshly crafted pastas, among other unique items. These offerings are designed to empower customers to effortlessly recreate the essence of restaurant-style Italian cuisine within the comfort of their own homes.
Debuting in 2020, Acasa’s products are meticulously crafted within a cutting-edge factory space that covers an expansive 25,000 square feet. Within this facility, four primary production lines operate: the cheese line, pasta line, sauce line, and bakery line. Every production line is meticulously tailored to efficiently manufacture a diverse selection of distinct products.
Since the early 1990s, Little Italy has been crafting their own cheese to cater to their restaurants. However, in response to the surging desire for gourmet cheese and the noticeable uptick in its consumption, Acasa opted to broaden their production. Their expanded range now encompasses a variety of cheeses including Mozzarella, Burrata, Gouda, Goat cheese, Cheddar, Bocconcini, Ricotta, and numerous others.
In addition to their exceptional cheese offerings, Acasa features a standout product line dedicated to pasta. This line specializes in crafting a diverse array of both fresh and stuffed pasta, encompassing delectable choices such as Ravioli, Tortellini, Cappelletti, Lasagne, Gnocchi, and more. The availability of fresh pasta is a culinary indulgence not commonly found in the current Indian retail landscape. Acasa aims to revolutionize this by ensuring the accessibility of these premium pasta varieties to all consumers.
Moreover, the factory’s repertoire extends beyond pasta to encompass a variety of other products. This includes desserts, artisanal breads, and an assortment of sauces like salsas, flavored oils, and an array of dips.
Amrut Mehta, Managing Director of Little Italy Group, said, “With this factory launch, we come one step closer to achieving our dream of bringing a slice of Italy to our customers’ doorsteps and sharing our love for Italian cuisine with India. We want to take it a step further by enabling consumers with great value for money products and sharing our expertise on how to cook Italian food and eventually make gourmet cooking a phenomenon in Indian households.”
“As a brand we strive to continue innovating and create unique products for the Indian market and the next steps for us will be introducing a line of truffle products and a vegan range,” said Raj Mehta, Chairman of Little Italy Group.
He further adds “Our passion for perfection drives us to transform your kitchen into a little piece of Italy, making every meal a celebration of fine taste and cherished memories.”
The factory boasts a distinctive feature: the incorporation of specialized Italian machinery furnished with cutting-edge technology. This equipment enables the production of top-tier products with enhanced efficiency, all the while safeguarding their inherent flavors and extending their shelf life, all without resorting to the use of preservatives. Accomplishing this feat involves a dedicated team of food technologists who leverage their expertise in food science. Through meticulous control over processes, meticulous attention to product temperature, pH levels, and precise packaging criteria, they ensure an extended shelf life for the products.
Conceived by Amrut Mehta, Acasa came into existence and was unveiled during the lockdown period. It proudly held the distinction of being the pioneering venture in the nation to introduce nationwide DIY home kits, a move that achieved remarkable success.
Since then, Acasa’s range of offerings has undergone significant expansion, now encompassing an extensive variety of sauces, cheeses, and pastas. In the preceding fiscal year, their revenue amounted to INR 1.2 crore. Anticipating the forthcoming financial year, Acasa has set its sights on a substantial growth trajectory, with the goal of reaching a revenue of INR 3 crore.
The long-term objective entails rendering Acasa products accessible to the average Indian, allowing them to conveniently prepare gourmet food in their own households.
