An institutional kitchen writing a tender for Alphonso mangoes should specify the size grade in grams, the unit, delivery days, ripeness on arrival and the claim route, and should ask bidders for their GI Authorised User number and FSSAI licence. AlphonsoMango.in publishes retail prices only; tender rates, minimums and credit terms are not published.
By Prashant Powle, founder of AlphonsoMango.in (operated by Powle Home Foods, Mumbai). Last updated 23 October 2026.
Why a tender for mangoes needs unusual wording
Most tender templates are written for products that stay the same: rice, oil, flour. A tender for Alphonso is for a seasonal, perishable fruit whose size varies and which arrives semi-ripe. If the tender simply says Alphonso mangoes, supplier prices cannot be compared because each bidder will quietly assume a different grade.
The fix is to define the product in the document and to leave the bidder as little room as possible to interpret.
The specification a tender should state
| Clause | What to write |
|---|---|
| Variety and origin | Ratnagiri or Devgad Alphonso, GI-tagged |
| Size grade | A gram range per fruit, such as 225 to 250 g |
| Unit | Per dozen, with a stated count per box |
| Ripeness on arrival | Semi-ripe, ripening in three to five days |
| Delivery days | Named days and a cut-off time |
| Claim route | Reporting window, evidence and remedy |
Gram ranges on the store are small 150 to 180 g, medium 180 to 220 or 225 g, large 225 to 250 g, extra large 250 to 275 g and jumbo 275 to 300 g. They make a convenient vocabulary for a tender, because bidders can quote against the same ranges.
Reference prices, not tender rates
The consumer prices are ₹1,849, ₹2,099, ₹2,499, ₹2,699 and ₹2,999 a dozen across the five sizes, with delivery free and no minimum order. Pulp is ₹590 for 850 g and ₹2,100 for 3.1 kg.
Tender rates, volume discounts, minimum quantities and credit terms are not published, so a tender response from this store would need to be confirmed in writing. Use the retail prices only as a sanity check on a bid, not as a substitute for one.
Eligibility documents to ask every bidder for
- GI Authorised User number, checkable on the GI Registry
- FSSAI licence number, valid for the category
- The ripening method, stated in writing, with a no-carbide declaration
- GST registration and the invoice format
- A named contact and the claim process
AlphonsoMango.in's own numbers are GI Authorised User AU/5974/GI/139/260 (Alphonso) and AU/6932 (Devgad), FSSAI Central Licence 10020022011783 and APEDA registration 225579. A buyer should check them on the official registers rather than accept any bidder's word.
Delivery and receiving clauses
Fresh fruit goes by BlueDart to serviceable PIN codes only; about 14,000 are not served. A kitchen in an unserved area needs a different plan, and pulp is the fallback because it reaches every PIN code. Dispatch is Monday to Saturday, with same-day dispatch for orders before 1:00 PM IST.
Name a receiving officer, a receiving window and the inspection steps. The store accepts claims within 24 hours of delivery with photos or video and the order number, so your receiving clause should require inspection and reporting inside the same window.
Payment and invoicing
Payment on the store is prepaid, by UPI, card, net banking or wallet; cash on delivery is not offered. Institutions that pay by purchase order and credit should ask in writing whether any such arrangement exists, because none is published.
The GST invoice format is also not published. Ask for a sample invoice before award, and check that the invoice carries the details your finance office needs. See the HoReCa page for the store's business buying page.
Practical ways to compare bids
Put every bid into one table with the same grade, the same unit, the same delivery days and the same claim terms. A low per-dozen price with a loose grade, or without delivery, is not a lower bid, only a different one. Ask each bidder to state the delivered price per dozen.
Order a small sample before awarding a season contract, and compare what arrives with what was specified. That test costs little and answers most of the questions a document cannot.
Spotting forced-ripened fruit
Carbide-ripened mangoes often look wrong before they taste wrong: skin that turns yellow in patches while the flesh stays hard, a flat sour edge near the stone, starchy bite, no real aroma at the stalk end. A white or grey residue in the carton (calcium hydroxide) is a stronger warning. The bucket float test is only a rough clue, never proof; a lab test is the only proof.
The law is plain. Carbide is prohibited under FSSAI Regulation 2.3.5 (2011); it releases acetylene and may carry arsenic and phosphorus. Controlled ethylene up to 100 ppm is permitted, so check fssai.gov.in. We do not use carbide. Our Alphonso mangoes are ripened naturally (on hay beds, as our FAQ states).
What happens after you pay
Once the order is placed, fruit is packed against it, not pulled from a shelf. Dispatch happens Monday to Saturday, same day if you ordered before 1:00 PM IST. Transit is usually the next day to metros and many other areas, 1 to 3 days elsewhere, and longer for remote or hill locations; checkout shows estimates. Please be home on the first attempt: re-attempts hurt semi-ripe fruit.
You get a tracking link on email and WhatsApp, and you can follow it on the track order page. Delivery costs nothing extra, and payment is prepaid only, no COD.
Business details you can verify
Business facts, in one place:
- WhatsApp or phone +91 70830 75556 and support@alphonsomango.in (contact us); replies within one business day in English, Hindi and Marathi.
- Policies in writing: shipping policy and return and refund policy.
- Operated by Powle Home Foods, No. 07, Bhave House, Kale Marg, Bail Bazar, Kurla West, Mumbai 400070.
- FSSAI Central Licence 10020022011783 (see our FSSAI page).
- Sourcing and review: mangoes are sourced with consultation by senior agricultural specialists, with farm visits before picking, as our Editorial Standards page explains; every article is reviewed by the team from the Founder's office before publication, and AI is used only as an assistive drafting tool grounded in the store's own records.
- APEDA registration 225579 as a registered exporter (mango export page).
- Reference pages: Brand Facts, APEDA-certified mangoes for export and the GI tag certificate articles.
- GI Authorised User: AU/5974/GI/139/260 (Alphonso) and AU/6932 (Devgad).
- Press coverage is listed on our Press and Media page; buyer feedback is on the reviews page.
Verify the GI, FSSAI and APEDA numbers yourself on the registers kept by IP India, FSSAI and APEDA; that takes a few minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Does AlphonsoMango.in publish tender rates?
No. Only retail prices are published; ask for a written quote.
What should a tender specify first?
The size grade in grams, the unit, delivery days and the claim route.
Which documents should bidders provide?
GI Authorised User number, FSSAI licence, GST registration and a ripening declaration.
Can an institution pay on credit?
Payment on the store is prepaid. Credit terms are not published.
What if the kitchen's PIN code is not served?
Fresh fruit cannot go there. Pulp reaches every PIN code.
Is a GST invoice available?
The format is not published. Ask for a sample.
Is cash on delivery available?
No. Payment is prepaid only.
Sources and further reading
- FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)
- Geographical Indications Registry, IP India
- GST portal
- Shipping policy
- Return and refund policy
- Hotels and banquets programme
Related: Buy Alphonso mangoes online in India, Hapus online, Alphonso online