KeHE is an influential wholesale food distributor, working with more than 30,000 outlets – including grocery stores, supermarkets and online vendors – across the US.
Its TrendFinder Golden Ticket recipients were singled out for their diversity, equity and inclusion strategies; along with their overall company mission; where and how they source their ingredients; the quality and consumer acceptance of their products; and its packaging.
Almost 200 suppliers received 20 minutes each to pitch their brand to KeHE’s category management team, which selected 20 of them to be part of the distributor’s product lineup. Among them, AlcoEats.
Overcoming adversity and obesity
The startup was founded in 2019 when Adit Agrawal overcame adversity after moving from India to the US. The 26-year-old engineer and entrepreneur had struggled with obesity throughout his childhood and was often bullied at school.
Agrawal finally found recovery with lifestyle changes and a balanced perspective on eating healthy, which he has translated into AlcoEats, to help others discover the deep, aromatic flavours of his roots but without the traditional heavy butter content, synthetic ingredients or trans fats.
“We believe everybody is an explorer. We provide relatable, easy-to-use ingredients for everyday use to keep you exploring new flavours every day,” said Agrawal.
Available on Amazon, AlcoEats’ portfolio includes eight varieties of ‘funny nuts’ like Mirch Masala Cashews (a blend of Indian spices with a tinge of garlic) and Cheddar Cheese Cashews (which contain 7g of protein). The cashews are farmed in India and are rich in proteins, contain heart-healthy fats and nutrients.
The product lineup also includes 13 spice pouches that contain zero calories, carbs or sodium – such as the Biryani Masala, redolent with cardamom, clove, turmeric and black pepper – and a line of ready-to-cook sauces for and easy low-calorie Indie Bowls. Many of the creamier sauces have a cashew nut base, elevated with natural ingredients like ginger, chili, tomato or onion.
The snacks, sauces and seasoning mixes make it effortless to prepare 26 different Indian dishes that celebrate Agrawal’s heritage and journey to healthful living. Each is made with only the purest spices and no unwanted additives, are vegan or vegetarian, dairy-free, keto and paleo friendly, soy-free, gluten-free and non-GMO.
“At AlcoEats, we love what we do and what we do is simple. We procure only the best ingredients from their origin, carefully craft flavours around what nature has to offer and match it with what you love eating. From spices, to blends and bowls, all products are ethically sourced from farms in the northern plains of India,” said Agrawal.
“We are a food company that makes enhancing consumer experience our top priority. Our efforts are focused on expanding consumer palettes while saving them time and money. We strive to change buying food from a hassle to a truly enjoyable experience.”
