ConsultDeva – Food Business Compliance & Marketing Consultant

The challenge you're facing

Running a food business in Tamil Nadu is exciting — and complicated.

Most food entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu hit the same roadblocks. Do any of these sound familiar?

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FSSAI registration & renewals are confusing

Which license do you need — basic, state, or central? When does your FBO status change? One wrong filing can delay everything by months.

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Your label isn't compliant — and you may not know it

FSSR 2018 and 2020 labelling rules are strict. Missing nutritional data, wrong claim formats, or an incorrect font size can get your product pulled from shelves.

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Packaging decisions are costing you customers

Packaging that doesn't speak to your target consumer — whether it's mothers, health-conscious teens, or export buyers — silently kills sales.

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Export markets feel out of reach

You've heard about NRI demand for traditional food products, but navigating APEDA, FSSAI export certificates, and foreign labelling requirements feels overwhelming.

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Trade channels are hard to crack

Getting into modern trade, retail chains, or food aggregators requires proper distribution strategy — not just a good product.

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Your millet or traditional product needs a launch plan

Health food is booming, but without proper formulation, claim validation, and consumer positioning, even great products fail to find buyers.

What I do

Full-stack consulting for food businesses — from kitchen to shelf.

Whether you're just starting out or scaling to export, I offer hands-on, end-to-end support across every pillar of your food business.

Most requested

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FSSAI Licensing & Compliance

End-to-end support for FSSAI Basic, State, and Central licenses. Renewals, FBO amendments, product approvals, and ongoing compliance monitoring so you're always audit-ready.

FBO Registration Renewals GMP Audit Ready

Core focus

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Food Labelling & Packaging

FSSR-compliant label design review, nutritional table preparation, health claim validation, multilingual label compliance, and packaging material selection for your target consumer group.

FSSR 2018 & 2020 Nutritional Labels Packaging Design Brief

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GMP & HACCP Implementation

I help you set up and document Good Manufacturing Practices and Hazard Analysis systems — practical, not just on paper — to meet FSSC 22000 and FSSAI manufacturing standards.

HACCP Plans SOP Writing FSSC 22000

High demand

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Export Facilitation

From APEDA registration to export labelling, phytosanitary certificates, and identifying NRI buyer channels — I help Tamil Nadu food businesses reach the Gulf, UK, USA, and Southeast Asia.

APEDA Registration Export Labelling Buyer Connects

Core focus

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Trade Marketing & Distribution

15 years of FMCG trade expertise from ITC Limited — applied to your food brand. Channel strategy, distributor onboarding, retail placement, and promotional planning for Tamil Nadu markets.

Distributor Strategy Modern Trade Entry BTL Marketing

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New Product Development

Specialising in millet-based RTD/RTC mixes and traditional rice-based products. From concept and formulation to trial batches, consumer testing, and final product launch plan.

Millet Products RTD / RTC Mixes Consumer Segmentation

How it works

Simple. Personal. No jargon.

I work with a small number of clients at a time so every business gets my full attention.

Free discovery call

30-minute call to understand your business, current stage, and biggest challenges. No sales pitch — just honest conversation.

Business health audit

I review your existing licenses, labels, process, and market position to identify gaps and quick wins.

Custom roadmap

A prioritised action plan tailored to your product, market, and budget — with clear timelines and milestones.

Hands-on execution

I don't just advise — I do the work with you. Documentation, applications, supplier connects, and more.

Ongoing handholding

Monthly reviews, priority WhatsApp access, and updates on regulatory changes so you're never caught off-guard.

Engagement plans

Start with a month. Grow together for years.

Choose a plan that matches where your business is right now. All plans are retainer-based — I'm your consultant on call, not a one-off vendor.

Starter

1 – 3 months

FSSAI registration or renewal
Label compliance review (up to 3 products)
1 GMP gap assessment visit
Weekly WhatsApp check-in
Regulatory update alerts

Enquire now

⭐ Recommended

Growth Partner

3 – 6 months

Everything in Starter
Full GMP & HACCP documentation
Export readiness assessment
Trade marketing & distribution plan
Packaging brief & design review
Buyer/distributor introductions
Priority response (within 4 hrs)

Start here

Scale Up

6 months – 3 years

Everything in Growth Partner
New product development support
FSSC 22000 implementation
Export market entry (Gulf / UK / SEA)
Monthly onsite visits
Dedicated consulting hours/month

Let's talk

Who I work with

Built for Tamil Nadu's food entrepreneurs.

My clients are ambitious MSME food businesses across Tamil Nadu at every stage of their journey.

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Millet & health food startups

Formulation, labelling, market entry, and FSSAI compliance for emerging health food brands.

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Home-based food entrepreneurs

Helping home chefs and cottage manufacturers get licensed, compliant, and shelf-ready.

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Small food manufacturers

GMP, HACCP, and FSSC 22000 support for factories wanting to upgrade quality systems.

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Export aspirants

Traditional food businesses ready to take their pickles, rice mixes, or snacks to NRI markets.

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D2C food brands

Brands selling on Amazon, Meesho, or their own website that need compliant labels and packaging.

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Restaurant & cloud kitchen owners

FSSAI compliance, hygiene audits, and branded packaged product development for F&B businesses.

Deva Venkatesh K.J. – Food Compliance Consultant Chennai

About Deva

I've been in your shoes — as a founder, as a trade executive, as a banker.

With over 15 years across ITC Limited, Repco Bank, and my own food startup Nandesh International, I understand food business challenges from the inside. I've launched millet products, managed FMCG distribution across Chennai, and navigated the very regulatory maze I now help my clients through.

At ITC, I managed FMCG product launches across food, cosmetics, and lifestyle categories in Chennai's modern trade. At Nandesh International, I developed 9 millet and traditional rice-based products from scratch — including compliant labels, packaging, and consumer positioning for age groups from 2+ years kids to adults.

Today, I bring all of that lived experience to Tamil Nadu's MSME food entrepreneurs — not as a distant advisor, but as a working partner who sits beside you through every milestone.

15+

Years in FMCG & food

Products personally developed

MBA

Marketing & HR, Univ. of Madras

FSSC

22000 v6 Internal Auditor

FoSTaC Certified Trainer – Basic Manufacturing

Internal Auditor – FSSC 22000 Version 6

Certified – FSSR Packaging & Labelling (2018 & 2020)

Certified – Value Addition of Millets (NIFTEM)

New Product Development – Implementation Framework Level 2

Frequently asked questions

Common questions from Tamil Nadu food businesses.

Do I need an FSSAI license if I sell from home?

Yes — any food business operating in India, including home kitchens and cloud kitchens, requires FSSAI registration or a license depending on your annual turnover. I help you determine exactly which category applies to you.

What are the most common FSSAI labelling mistakes?

Missing mandatory declarations, incorrect nutritional table format, non-compliant font sizes, missing allergen info, and using health claims that aren't FSSAI-approved are the most frequent violations I see on Tamil Nadu food labels.

Can I export my traditional food product to the UAE or UK?

Yes — there is strong NRI demand for traditional Tamil Nadu food products abroad. You'll need APEDA registration, an FSSAI export certificate, and country-specific labelling. I handle the full export facilitation process.

How long does it take to get a state FSSAI license?

With correct documentation, a State FSSAI license typically takes 30–60 days. Delays usually stem from missing documents or incorrect categorisation — both of which I help you avoid from the start.

I have a millet product idea. Where do I begin?

Start with a free discovery call. I'll help you map out formulation, consumer targeting, regulatory requirements, labelling, and a launch plan — all in one roadmap specific to your product idea.

Do you work with businesses outside Chennai?

Yes — I work with food businesses across Tamil Nadu, including Coimbatore, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Virudhunagar, Salem, and more. Remote consulting is available for most services; onsite visits are available across TN.