As is well-known, India has secured the tag of Diabetes capital of the world with over 7 crore diabetes patients. And according to some studies at some point, one in every five women in India suffer from PCOS in their life.
Recent evidence has suggested that intake of plant-based protein alleviates or lowers the risk of blood pressure, cardiovascular disease. It also fixes weight management problems, alleviates diabetes, PCOS and a host of other non-communicable diseases (NCD).
That’s where Devendra Chawla, got the seed for his venture, Samyog Health Foods.
He shares, “Like most people, I love tasty meals and snacks like chips, pizzas, pastas, pancakes and so much more. But over time I became aware of their nutritional nuances and the repercussions of these foods on my health, especially since I’ve always had a problem controlling my weight. Around the same time, my father was diagnosed as prediabetic and was suggested a high protein diet by his nutritionist. Having followed her advice, today his sugar levels have stabilised.”
Devendra noticed that today over 68% of individuals in India are protein deficient i.e resulting in several health-based challenges. A balanced diet can reduce the risk of diabetes and PCOS in people to a large extent. And hence, by implementing lifestyle changes and by bringing an impeccably improved diet in people’s routines, Samyog Health Foods, aims to transform the food sector in India and help build healthier communities.
Samyog Health Foods was started in 2020 with a focus on vegan foods developed using plant-based proteins. According to Devendra, there are two major shifts happening with regard to proteins in the food system.
Food without guilt
“The first is the transition from animal-based proteins to plant-based proteins. Animal agriculture is one of the significant contributors of food insecurity and an unsustainable food system. Over 3/4th of all agricultural land is used to feed farm animals, which could otherwise be employed for the cultivation of crops meant for direct human consumption. Currently, there are technological capabilities to produce foods like meat and dairy from plant-based sources, instead of conventional animal sources. We have set up an R&D facility to do research in this space. The second shift, a necessary one, is the carbohydrate to protein switch. In line with this, we have launched our first brand, Prolicious, that focuses on helping people reduce their carbohydrate content and get more protein throughout the day,” he explains.
Prolicious sits at the interaction of taste and health. The brand picked the snacks and everyday food that are loved by Indians and eventually increased the protein content in them. This not only helps people to meet their protein goals but also allows them to enjoy the food they love without any guilt.
Prolicious works towards filling crucial gaps by developing variety of tasty and healthy foods with the followings benefits:
- High Protein
- high Fibre
- 100% plant-based
- Low GI, Gluten free & Salt
The shift to sustainability
The business started during the first wave of the pandemic. However, the initial lockdown offered a crucial time for Devendra to execute a solid business model and plan to launch the business.
He explains, “But what the pandemic led to is the acceleration of consumer shift towards building an improved lifestyle. It made consumers actively seek healthier alternatives of commonly consumed products and bring about a change at the very core of their routine and habits. This in turn fortified our resolve to bridge the existing gaps and create a healthier nation.”
Seeing educated consumers who are becoming more conscious of what they are consuming, not only at home but also at work places, gave Devendra a goal to constantly work on. Samyog even runs a ‘Nutrition at Work’ programme to spread nutritional awareness.
The founder adds, “Typical manufacturing facilities are optimised to produce one product in very large quantities. Our facility on the other hand has state-of-the-art machinery to produce a wide range of food products including khakhras, thins, premixes, pastas, noodles and plant-based products. This goes with our theme of making tasty foods to help people get their protein throughout the day. We have a vertically integrated facility from raw materials and ingredients to end products with all the latest machineries and technologies. Our facility in Kopar Khairane is capable of traditional and D2C logistics. We also source the best quality of raw materials and maintain hygienic storage conditions to ensure freshness.”
The company aims to automate and digitise the factory using industry 4.0 technologies to improve quality, implement customisation and efficiently scaleup.
Samyog Health Foods prioritises the quality and safety of its products. The company brings the most delicious, high protein, safe and high quality products to customers and follow GMP & GHP practices at the facility. Moreover, it has secured all the necessary certifications from FSSAI and try to make less use of both electricity and water and are striving to go paperless soon.
Future protein print
Currently the company is focusing on Indian markets, however it is planning to expand the business internationally and begin exporting.
“Our vision is to make tasty foods nutritious using plant-based protein thereby adding protein to our consumer’s daily diet. We have only just begun our journey. However, our initial trials have received great responses from consumers. Some have even shared their health transformation journeys with us, motivating us to move forward with our vision. We have also witnessed strong engagement on our D2C channels with repeat customers.” Devendra shares.
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