The Ankurs Nice N Spice store is in Nelson Street, Petone, a place that arouses the senses. The First Impression – even before reaching the front door – is the aroma of delightful and exotic spices. Then there’s the sight of a huge range of colours from bins of spices, racks of herbs and shelves of packaged foods – red chilli, yellow turmeric, green mint ad orange curries. It’s a culinary nirvana.
Ankurs was opened on Waitangi Day, February 6th 2009 by Hitesh and Ankur Vyas. We came from Ahmedabad, the 7th largest city in India. We have settled in New Zealand several years ago.
“We like it here, where there’s a peaceful environment and friendly people,” I (Hitesh) have realised that “New Zealanders” are passionate about “Indian Food” and “I wanted to bring all the flavours of India under one roof.”
Everything in the store is imported from India, ensuring the genuine characteristics and flavours are retained. In the short time Ankurs has been open; the business has been a major supplier to the wide variety of customers who have come to enjoy the range of items that can be used in all sorts of dishes.
Ankurs also supplies to major quality-preferred restaurants throughout New Zealand.The staff has an Indian background and are thoroughly knowledgeable about how the spices and other foods can be used in recipes.
My wife (Hitesh’s Wife), Ankur (after whom the business is named), is an excellent cook and is publishing a cookbook soon that showcases the best of Indian Cuisine. The book will be available at Ankurs soon.
While many customers are from the Indian region and New Zealanders of all ethnic backgrounds are becoming regular Ankurs Customers. “We value our customers, who have supported us since we opened and helped us to make our dreams come true.”
Ankurs Nice N Spice has qualified as a finalist in Wellington 2010 Top Shop Retail Excellence Award in the Food and Beverage category.
Apart from spices, Ankurs has pulses, rice, take-away and ready-to-eat meals, frozen vegetables, drinks, cooking oils, Indian sweets and biscuits, and much more.
Ankur Vyas also operates Ankurs VH Hair Design on 679 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt, Where she provides beauty treatment and threading.