Snacking gets healthier via Health Sutra

Are you a foodie constantly worried about your unhealthy eating habits? Or is obesity forcing you to follow a healthy food lifestyle? Health Sutra, a start-up, is trying to solve this problem by bringing India’s traditional food back. 

The Hyderabad-based firm, apart from manufacturing and marketing packaged food made from millets, offers ready-to-cook mini-meals. Founded in September 2014 by Sai Krishna Popuri and Maheedhar N V, the start-up last month raised $400,000 (Rs 2.4 crore) in a pre-Series A round from Ankur Capital and Hyderabad Angels.

With people increasingly becoming health conscious, the healthy food market in the country in 2016 was estimated at Rs 26,000 crore, according to a Euromonitor International report.

The company relies on agricultural produce market committees and farmer producer organisations for raw material and flakes serves as its major product. The company claims its products are free from preservatives and artificial ingredients. 

It sells its products through the conventional retail supply channel. Sai Krishna Popuri said even before the recent fundraising they had reached break-even operationally. “With the raised funds, we will definitely burn but will be operationally positive in the next six-eight months.”

Currently, Health Sutra products are available at over 600 stores across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. With the raised funds, the company aims to set up a bigger processing unit, build its brand, introduce more products and expand its footprint in these states and other geographies. 

Health Sutra also plans to take its headcount to 35 from the 20 in the next 12 months and raise Series-A funding in the next 12-18 months.