Feeding Wellness: How Mehek Khera Built a Brand Rooted in Tradition, Successfully Landing on the Shelves of Sprouts & Albertsons

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In this episode of Shelf Talks, host Roberta interviews Mehek Khera, founder of Niramaya Foods, who shares her journey from a corporate career to launching her own brand focused on Indian-inspired, health-conscious foods. Mehek discusses the challenges and triumphs of building her brand, including product development, sourcing ingredients, navigating the retail landscape, and responding to consumer feedback. She emphasizes the importance of marrying convenience with nutrition and shares insights on expanding her product line to include pretzels. The conversation highlights the dedication and passion behind Niramaya Foods and the vision for its future in the retail market.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Neera Maya Foods
01:11 Mehek's Journey from Tech to Food Entrepreneurship
03:03 The Spark Behind Neera Maya Foods
04:40 Understanding Nutrition and Health
07:57 Bringing Indian Flavors to the Retail Market
10:57 Connecting with Local Farmers and Ingredients
13:30 The Importance of Consumer Feedback
16:39 Navigating the Manufacturing Process
19:59 The Role of Packaging in Branding
23:59 Transitioning to Retail and Initial Sales Performance
30:38 Funding Strategies: From Bootstrapping to Debt Financing
31:01 Marketing Plans: Strategies for Product Launch
32:13 Consumer Feedback: Adapting Products to Market Needs
35:17 Navigating Retail: From Small Stores to Major Retailers
39:28 Sales Challenges: Understanding Retail Dynamics
43:09 Expanding Product Lines: The Launch of Pretzels
49:34 Retail Realities: Lessons Learned in the Industry

Links mentioned:

Niramaya Foods Website: https://www.niramayafoods.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niramayafoods/

Tikok: https://www.tiktok.com/@niramayafoods

Mehek's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mehekkhera/

Retail locator can be found on Niramaya's website!

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