UAE Princess Funds Mumbai Based Start Up Wegan Foods

Wegan Foods, a Mumbai-based vegan food startup has raised an undisclosed sum in funding from Sheikha Arwa Al Qassimi, a member of the royal family of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.

Kinjal Darukhanawala, founder and CEO Wegan foods said that the aim is to be an ethical and transparent brand and each product will be crafted in ‘happy kitchens’ with a 90 percent women workforce.

“I was impressed with the fact that Kinjal plans to have a 90 percent women workforce by hiring from organisations that groom and empower women from disadvantaged backgrounds. This is the biggest motivation for me. Globally, I have been an advocate for women’s rights and see this investment as a step in that direction,” Sheikha Arwa Al Qassimi said.

The funding will be used for scaling the commercial kitchen, inventory, and brand building.

As per an official statement, Wegan Foods will initially be launched in Mumbai via modern trade and specific food delivery app platforms. The company is also aiming to set up a B2B network with restaurants, hotels, catering companies, coffee shop chains, and airlines.

The startup is planning to launch a range of healthy, dairy-free, pantry staples for the growing vegan community in India.

Wegan Foods’ first product, Dairy Free Cheese, will be launched in October 2017. This non-dairy cheese. The Vegan Cheese is soy-free, gluten-free.

“The first product development took close to six months. The idea is not just being vegan but also carrying a line of products that are delicious and nutritious for all age groups to devour. A lot of people have preconceived notions about vegan food. They think it is boring, tasteless, and far from original taste and flavour. Our brand plans to banish these notions,” she reiterated.

Currently  places like Veganbites, Yogisattva, Vegan Tiffin, Bombay Bizzare Bakers, etc. provide vegan food in Mumbai.