“Where there is a will, there is a way. With strength in your arms, Mumbai never lets anyone sleep hungry.” A young Marathi man has proved this saying true.
Mumbai, known as the city of dreams, sees thousands of people arrive every day with new hopes. Building a separate identity in that crowd, and opening a shop in a busy, well-known trading hub like Crawford Market, is a Herculean task. But a determined young Marathi man from Satara has done exactly that.
The man is Shri Manish Kadam. For the past 10 years, he has run MK Dry Fruits at Crawford Market with integrity, and has made his mark in Mumbai’s market.
Ten Years of Struggle and Penance Manish Kadam carried the dark soil of Satara and its tough self-respect in his blood. When he decided to start a business in Mumbai, a mountain of challenges stood in front of him. Crawford Market is the stronghold of traditional traders who have been there for generations. For a new face to land there, win trust and survive the competition was not easy.
The early days were a test. Understanding the tricks of the market, bringing good quality goods at fair prices directly from growers and the wholesale market, and winning over every customer were his daily tests. But Manish Kadam never compromised on quality. Almonds, cashews, pistachios, walnuts, figs, various berries and seeds: whatever the customer buys must be genuine, fresh and the best. That was his principle. Through this honesty, the name MK Dry Fruits slowly became a symbol of trust.
Not Just His Own Progress, but Strength for Village Hands Too A true entrepreneur does not just fill his own home. He also lights the hearths of others. Manish Kadam has achieved success, but he has not forgotten his village or its people.
After his business took root, he brought three or four needy young men from his village in Satara to Mumbai and gave them dignified work in his shop. Those young men are now learning the trade and standing on their own feet. Manish Kadam, who gives wings to the dreams of village youth while building a life in an unfamiliar city, is truly an heir to Chhatrapati’s ideals.
Diwali and the festive season are around the corner. It is a festival of lamps, of prosperity and of sharing affection. Corporate offices, companies, housing societies and homes are busy giving dry fruits as Diwali gifts.
We buy from other places throughout the year. But when a Marathi youth from our own soil builds his identity in Mumbai’s main market, supporting him becomes our responsibility too.
📍 Contact and address: MK Dry Fruits (Proprietor: Shri Manish Kadam) Crawford Market, South Mumbai.