The Revolutionary Launch of the World’s First-Ever Almond Cheese Protein Bar to Probiotic Plant-Based Yoghurts

We talked to Jasmin K Shaikh of AXIA Foods about the World’s first-ever Almond cheese protein bar, and she had the following to say:-

First of all, how are you and your family doing in these COVID-19 times? 

Jasmin K Shaikh: We are adapting well. We all are doing well. I hope you and your family are in good health.

Tell us about you, your career, how you founded AXIA Foods.

Jasmin K Shaikh: I am a B’tech Food technologist from MAEERS MIT College Pune( GURUKUL). It’s now a decade since I started working as a food scientist in the Food Research & Development Department. I have worked for MNC’S & successfully established many Startups. I am BSI Certified Lead auditor too. I wanted to start our own venture from the initial days, but it took time, and finally, in 2019, I started AXIA Foods Pvt Ltd. The inspiration behind the company is my father. I found these plant-based products venture along with My Brother, Mr. Vasim K Shaikh, who is a co-founder & CMO of the company. We have a team of highly qualified & experienced people from the Food, Pharma & Nutrition & health industry. Healthy eating has been confused by all conflicting nutrition advice. An adequate diet, providing all nutrients, is needed throughout our lives to maintain physical growth and development, maintenance of normal body function, physical activity, and health. The nutrients must be obtained through a judicious choice and combination of a variety of food essentials from different food groups. When it comes to a healthy diet, balance is the key to getting it right. We founded the AXIA with a mission “to make nutritionally balanced, convenient, affordable, healthy-meal-on-the-go with minimal impact on the environment.

How does AXIA Foods innovate? 

Jasmin K Shaikh: So I am looking after our research & product development. With great pride & immense pleasure, Axia Foods Pvt Ltd introduces you to India’s First ever High protein, probiotic & prebiotic Plant-Based / Vegan yoghurt & smoothies. So when we started, we wanted to address the issues like unavailability of high protein plant-based yoghurts, which are dairy as well as soya free. The product which will be a balanced healthy meal on the go. The product has been designed to avail following health benefits:-

1. High protein, dairy & soya free vegan yoghurt for all age group people.
2. Naturally lactose-free & Gluten-free, so people with lactose intolerance can have this with the benefits of high protein, micro-nutrients like minerals & vitamins.
3. It comes with probiotics & prebiotics, which helps to function the digestive system in a proper way with good absorption of nutrients.
4. It maintains the blood sugar level of the body and also provides balanced nutrition.
5. Our products are packed in glass jars and not plastic for two major reasons being the environmental aspect and also retain their nutritional treasures.
6. Yoghurts are a balanced and healthy meal on the go.
7. Great product to give to kids to complete their nutritional needs, which is also preservative-free.
8. Good source of protein for vegetarian, vegan & Jain communities.
9. Our entire product range promises health benefits that help boost immunity, which is the primary concern in the current situation.

Also, recently we launched 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗖𝗵𝗲𝘇®.

“After several months of a Research & development We would like to introduce a World’s first-ever High Protein ALMOND CHEESE PROTEIN BARS with a brand name 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗖𝗵𝗲𝘇®. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗖𝗵𝗲𝘇® is made with cultured & aged almond cheese. The idea got innovated, keeping the mind that everyone wants to stay healthy but in a delicious way. So the research has started to develop a unique guilt-free, plant-based nutritious & tasty product by combining Cultured & aged Almond cheese, which has the soft cheesecake texture, infused with loads of fruits & covered with heavenly delicious dark chocolate. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗖𝗵𝗲𝘇® is perfect Healthy Meal-on -the -go with 18g of Almond Protein, dairy & soya free with the goodness of prebiotics, which helps to maintain gut health. It’s gluten free, all-natural Cheese protein bars. The deliciously healthy Almond cheese Protein bars have two variants, Strawberry & coffee. This is a revolutionary product for the plant-based category. From the kids to athletes to working people to homemakers, for the party, while working out, during blissful yoga sessions, in between meetings, from morning breakfast to midnight cravings, it’s a perfectly healthy meal-on -the-go.”

How the coronavirus pandemic affects your business, and how are you coping?

Jasmin K Shaikh: It was only 6 months since starting the business, and we faced lockdown issues. Though our product had high demand during this period because of local regulations of Covid 19, we could not serve people, so for 5 months, we lost the entire business. 

Now we are working on delivering PAN India and adding a new product to our product portfolio.

Did you have to make difficult choices, and what are the lessons learned?

Jasmin K Shaikh: Being the pioneer in plant-based yoghurt, it was difficult for us to make people understand about the product. There were a lot of product comparisons with respect to taste & texture between dairy & grenyogert. Also, people were not aware of the benefits of plant-based products. The product’s price was a big concern for the people as though people had purchasing power, but we observed unwillingness towards spending on the right kind of healthy food. Now we have a product range which has maximum price Rs 195 to minimum Rs70. 

How do you deal with stress and anxiety? How do you project yourself and AXIA Foods in the future?

We started this company on very positive notes. We are happy that we were not afraid of being the first to start the trend. We understand that to grow a company in terms of Commercial business will take time, but we are ready to put our efforts and hard work into it. 

Who are your competitors? And how do you plan to stay in the game?

Jasmin K Shaikh: Many companies and startups have entered in plant-based products. Our strategy is to manufacture unique products in a market that even people haven’t thought of, such as Prochez. So we are completely focusing on unique ideas of product. Our all products are based on the concept of High plant protein, dairy & soya free, all-natural & healthy meal on the go.

Your final thoughts?

Jasmin K Shaikh: We are excited about our recent launch of the World’s first-ever Almond cheese protein Bars. We want to serve people with the right kind of nutrition in a sustainable way. The products are ecofriendly and healthiest. We are working towards our dream to provide nutritious products to kids free of cost & also want to serve people in SPACE, too, kind of space food.

Your website?

https://axiafood.com/about