Srinagar: Come Diwali, Kashmir’s dry fruits, saffron and traditional handicraft dealers are targeting the corporate gifting segment to boost sales in the festive season.
Walnuts, almonds, saffron and kahwa are finding their way into customised gift hampers, often packaged alongside traditional Kashmiri products such as papier-mâché artefacts, pashmina items and locally sourced honey. Suppliers are positioning these combinations as premium alternatives to conventional sweets and standard corporate gift boxes.
The trend is creating an opportunity for local traders, artisans and small businesses to reach customers beyond the Valley, with several sellers offering bulk orders, customised packaging and deliveries to multiple locations across the country.
Srinagar-based supplier KashmirNosh, for instance, advertises bulk supplies of walnuts, almonds and saffron to companies and distributors across India, including customised Diwali gift packages. Its published gift guide lists a walnut-and-almond combination at around ₹498, while a pack containing saffron and almonds is priced at ₹478. A premium combination of Mamra almonds, saffron and walnuts is listed at ₹1,107.
Kashmir Arts and Crafts is also targeting the corporate gifting segment with curated hampers featuring saffron, honey, pashmina and papier-mâché products, bringing together food items and traditional handicrafts in a single package.
Local traders said demand for customised hampers has encouraged dealers to prepare festive collections well ahead of the festival, with buyers increasingly looking for products that reflect regional identity.
“Given the orders received last year on the eve of Diwali, most dealers have customised Diwali hampers this year. Dealers are receiving orders in hundreds, a month ahead of the festival,” said Sajjad Ahmad Bhat, a Srinagar-based dealer.
Saffron sellers are also tapping into the corporate market by offering different price points and customisation options to suit varying budgets and order sizes.
The Valley Saffron, which claims it sources its saffron from Pampore, offers corporate gifting packages for orders ranging from 25 to 2,000 boxes. The packages can include customised greeting cards and delivery to multiple addresses, catering to companies with employees and business associates spread across different cities.
“Not just saffron, we also offer Kashmiri Mamra almonds, walnuts and dried apple chips to our customers. We are getting ample orders from the IT sector, which is known for surprising its employees during festivals,” said Musaib Khan, owner of the outlet.
Farooq Ahmad Reshi, an artisan, said the customised wooden decorative pieces are attracting businesses for Diwali gifting.
“We are also seeing interest in Kashmiri walnut-wood products, particularly small decorative pieces, trays and handcrafted items that can be included in corporate gift hampers. Companies are looking for gifts that represent Kashmir’s culture and craftsmanship, rather than only conventional products,” he said.
Pertinently, Jammu and Kashmir’s handicrafts exports reached ₹817.39 crore in FY2025-26.