Shivani’s Kitchen on Track for $1M: A real taste of what growth looks like

Entrepreneurship on social media can look shiny and new. But real growth? It’s usually messy, slow, and full of hard-won lessons.

For Shivani Dhamija, founder of Shivani’s Kitchen, that meant:

• Learning how the retail industry really works
• Hearing “no” way more often than “yes”
• Figuring out pricing, packaging, and supply chains the hard way
• Taking risks that didn’t always pay off

There were late nights, tough conversations, and moments when giving up felt easier than pushing forward.

But every step counted

Each mistake taught us something. Each pivot got us closer. Each small win kept us moving.

The milestone they’re targeting now isn’t just about numbers. It’s proof that a small company from Halifax, Nova Scotia—with clean-label Indian sauces, spices, paneer, and a big dream—can earn its place on the shelves of Walmart, Sobeys, and Costco.

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Lessons learned on the way

Here are a few things Shivani wished she knew when she started—and she hopes will help other entrepreneurs:

1. Retail is a game of grit
   Success in retail isn’t about luck or charm—it’s about deeply understanding how it works. Learn the buyer’s process. Understand your margins. Know your numbers cold.
    
2. Rejection is a constant
   You’ll hear “no” more than you can count. But rejection doesn’t mean your product isn’t good. It just means you haven’t found the right fit yet.
    
3. Packaging sells—not just product
   Your product can be incredible, but if the pricing or packaging doesn’t resonate with customers, it won’t move. Invest in design and clarity. Listen to feedback.
    
4. Supply chains can make or break you
   Without reliable operations, you can’t scale. Build strong relationships. Forecast smart. Always have contingency plans.
    
5. Take risks, but track the lessons
   Not every gamble pays off—and that’s okay. What matters is what you learn and how you pivot.
    
6. Build systems before you scale
   For the past 2 years the company focussed heavily on systems—operations, team building, logistics. That’s the foundation allowing growth beyond $1M.

Just getting started

Crossing this milestone feels big—but it’s just the beginning. The systems we’ve built aren’t meant to get us to $1M. They’re built to help us scale to $10M and beyond.

To our small but mighty team, to every retailer who gave us a shot, to our loyal customers—and to everyone who believed in us before we looked successful—thank you.

From a home kitchen to national shelves, we’re proud of what we’ve built—and we’re not done yet.

Located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Shivani's Kitchen creates delicious, paneer and sauce bases. Experience tempting creamy butter chicken, sweet and savory curry to spicy chickpea flavors.

This video was produced with Invest Nova Scotia’s Digital Marketing Asset Development Program (Agri-food).