Success Story: Masala Blend

Small Business Support Helps Masala Blend Spice Up Stockton

Location: Central California | San Joaquin County | Stockton

Business Type: Spice Blend Retail

Small Business Center: Sacramento MBDA Business Center

Assistance Received: Business advising, marketing and web development support

Visit Masala Blend online

Mamta Gupta wanted to honor her roots through the creation of Masala Blend. Her dream for the business was to locally handcraft spice blends of her family’s traditional recipes.

“The seed of Masala Blend took roots while I was attending graduate school at George Mason University, VA,” said Mamta. “Those years my weekends were all about experimenting blending spices the traditional way my mom made. My goal was to cook nutritious meals in less time as I was attending graduate school and working full-time as a Special Education teacher. After years of making the blends for myself and sharing with family and friends, I launched Masala Blend in July 2019, with a vision to support farm to fork initiative and promote nutritious easy to cook dishes with flavors by using Masala Blend spice mix.”

Mamta encountered challenges along the way such as not having any food business background, and struggling with the marketing aspect of the business. She had a difficult time after COVID, as she didn’t know how to market Masala Blend products through social media.

Fortunately, she was able to connect with the Sacramento MBDA Business Center. Mamta had been looking for support with e-commerce and marketing specifically and was especially grateful for the guidance she received from the MBDA Rural program.

“The help I am receiving is priceless,” she said. “I’m especially grateful to have worked with Sherri, the MBDA Rural Director, who has been such a great support. I am so thankful to Sherri for connecting me with Pablo Gomez, Small Business Advisor —he is an awesome trainer! He has been incredibly helpful and has started teaching me how to create the Google page, add products, work on SEO, and so much more.

“…I received 1-1 support and learned how to create SEO on the Masala Blend website, create a Google presence by creating a business page for Masala Blend. It has given me the confidence to be able to promote and reach out to potential customers through Masala Blend website and Google presence.”

About her company, Mamta shared, “our versatile blends are made in small batches with all-natural ingredients to ensure quality and freshness in each spice bottle. We purchase all the spices and other raw materials locally, and our spice blends are made in Stockton. Our Masala Blends are gluten-free; dairy-free; no added colors or preservatives. They are vegetarian and vegan friendly and can be used in any cuisine while cooking or just by sprinkling as a topping or garnish. We offer 24 different varieties of spice blends; each has its own unique flavor and aroma. We take pride in the high quality of our products.”

Visit Masala Blend online. And, if you are in Northern California or the Central Valley, have an idea, or have a business you are looking to grow, reach out to the Sacramento MBDA Business Center.

Updated: 3/20/2025