India, Jan. 30 -- Ajit Bedekar, Director, V.P. Bedekar & Sons

For over a century, Bedekar Pickles has been a cherished name in households across India, blending tradition with taste. Starting as a humble grocery store in 1910, this family-run enterprise has grown into a regional powerhouse in the pickle industry. Ajit Bedekar, the fourth-generation torchbearer of the Bedekar legacy, shares his journey of taking the reins in the 1990s, navigating challenges like rising competition, evolving consumer demands, and regulatory shifts. In this exclusive interview, he opens up about the art and science of pickle-making, the dynamics of a century-old business, and what it takes to preserve heritage in the modern era. Edited excerpts:

Could you ...