Exclusive Interview | Shriya Naheta Wadhwa, Founder- Zama Organics

The Aim is to Put Indian organic food on the map.

Shriya Naheta Wadhwa,

Founder- Zama Organics

Tell us about your journey. How did it all start?

I graduated from the University of Southern California in 2015, after which I moved back home to Mumbai. While I always felt I wanted to do something on my own, I only realized my passion for organic and healthy food after visiting a few farms on a trip with my sister. I was amazed at the variety and quality of produce—from a humble potato to exotic black rice. Most people, including me, have limited knowledge and access to an organic and high-quality product that is real and wholesome. My love for food kept me determined to bridge the gap and I spent the next few years doing extensive research, which eventually led to the birth of Zama Organics. I launched the website in 2018!

Tell us About Zama Organics

Zama Organics works directly with farmers, producers, and artisanal makers to provide high-quality groceries, fresh fruits, and veggies that are healthy, organically, and sustainably grown. Zama Organics launched in 2018 and has marquee angel investors like Ajay Kaushal (BillDesk), Arjun Lamba (Guardian Advisors), and Jay Mehta (Mehta Group) among others. With over 300 SKUs ranging from fresh fruits, and veggies, to daily essentials and groceries, the brand is fully operational in Mumbai with an expansion plan carved out for major metropolitan cities of India to become a thought leader in this space and put Indian organic food on the map.

What do you think it takes to succeed in this industry?

As a young brand, we're constantly growing and improving. We want to be synonymous with organic, health, and wellness. Our aim is to be a loved, trusted brand and a one-stop shop for all your organic and healthy grocery needs. We hope to be present in a lot more locations across the country via our own website and a multi-channel approach. Needless to say, we hope this creates an ever-growing Zama community that advocates better eating habits and a positive relationship with food! This industry is yet extremely niche and is seeing growth, especially post-pandemic - the inflection point will hit eventually. The key for us would be to stay true to our vision and continue on our journey!

What do you think is the one major gap in this industry?

Organic produce does come at a higher price point, and small organic brands like ours cannot offer the delivery convenience that larger quick commerce players can. When it comes to organic produce, consumers are yet to fully recognize the value it offers - based on authentic quality and not solely base grocery purchase decisions on deep discounts and deals. As a consumer, asking deeper questions matters because it helps you make informed decisions about what you eat and how the supply chain works -- it will also motivate more farmers to switch to organic farming!

 

What are some of the trends you see impacting this industry?

More than ever before, consumers have become extremely health conscious, mindful about what they consume, and particular about the details of their food. It's a positive trend for health - where the conversations have moved from losing weight/being skinny to making informed choices for overall health, better nutrition, fitness, and well-being. 

 

What tech would you like to see in operations? What operational problems need tech solutions in your niche category?

I would love to see more technology that helps with traceability and creates more transparency throughout the entire supply chain. It would provide confidence to the end consumer and would help us maintain transparency through and through. It would also be great to figure out ways to transport and package our produce/products efficiently - in a way that benefits the environment or lowers our carbon footprint. It would excite me to see more sustainable tech solutions in this category. 

Two things you would like to change in this industry.

The price-sensitive mindset especially when it comes to food and grocery

Fad-diets & short term "health" solutions

  

Website: www.zamaorganics.com 

Instagram  @zamaorganics