Brother-Sister Duo Are Solving Nutrition Crisis With Protein Snacks

“I don’t match into the standard startup age group. I’m already 37 and a mom of two,” says Parul Sharma, co-founder of Gladful, a web-based protein meal and snack firm. However, none of this has stopped the ambitions that she harbours.

After having spent shut to fifteen years throughout varied roles in an American FMCG firm, in 2020 Parul determined to make the leap and launch her label to grow to be an entrepreneur. It was additionally the time when Parul was toying with the concept of beginning one thing to name her personal.

Speaking to The Better India, Parul says, “When my older youngster was round 10 we discovered that he had a protein deficiency. He had had a number of accidents and most of them would take a really very long time to heal. Several exams later he was recognized with a protein deficiency. This is what kick-started my journey into attempting to make nutritious but tasty protein-filled meals for him.”

According to a number of research, over 70 per cent of Indians have a protein deficiency and but this stays a deficiency that doesn’t get spoken about.

Protein is called the building block on your muscular tissues, pores and skin, enzymes, and hormones, and it additionally performs a necessary position in all physique tissues. The lack of protein could cause havoc to the physique. Protein deficiency usually leaves its mark on the pores and skin, hair and nails, that are largely made up of it. It may lead to muscle loss, make you vulnerable to fractures by weakening your bones and take a toll in your immune system.

Parul’s co-founder Manu Sharma, who additionally occurs to be her brother, joined the enterprise to provide it a much-needed impetus. Manu is a chartered accountant and has additionally been part of a couple of startup journeys to this point. Having handled pancreatic points and being a juvenile diabetic himself, Manu additionally understands the necessity for offering kids with good nutritious meals choices.

“Our mother and father had been sceptical as a result of each Parul and I stop our jobs to start out Gladful,” says Manu, including, “But protein deficiency is a big however invisible problem that we face and I’m completely happy that with Gladful, we’re bridging the hole.”

He continues, “Our job isn’t just to make protein-filled tasty snacks but in addition construct consciousness about sufficient proteins for teenagers and households. Teenagers uncover pores and skin, hair, hormonal and immunity-related issues regularly. A variety of them are associated to insufficient protein consumption once they had been pre-teens. Gladful desires to alter that in years to return, one snack at a time.”

Since its inception in December 2021, the corporate has already seen an 8x development and the founders are assured of this quantity multiplying.

‘Something is missing in our diets.’

While as mother and father, we guarantee that nutritious meals are supplied to our youngsters, there may be plenty of unhealthy snacking that creeps in. “There needed to be a approach the place children would begin consuming protein in an unsupervised setting as properly. I didn’t need to be consistently pushing my children to have their proteins. This was the issue that my brother and I got down to resolve,” says Parul.

She additionally provides that greater than children it was tough convincing moms who harboured so many misconceptions about consuming proteins. “Some felt that consuming proteins would result in weight acquire, others believed that it brought about digestion points and a few simply didn’t favour the style. However, none of them knew how a lot a protein deficiency may impression development.”

Parul says that she experimented with near 36 totally different recipes and labored with soy, whey and even varied sorts of brown rice and peas of their merchandise to get the style and formulation excellent. “It has been a protracted journey of trials. The consequence has been candy on condition that our product offers you shut to 6 grams of protein with each serve. This when in comparison with different merchandise out there offers you nearly 0.8 gm in the identical serve measurement,” she says.

Speaking in regards to the identify of the corporate, Manu says, “We had varied inputs. Some stated we should always embrace a reputation focussed on development, whereas others urged we be direct and identify it one thing to do with proteins. However, we needed a reputation that would echo our sentiment of ‘feeling glad’ after feeding our youngsters an excellent healthful meal. That was how we got here up with Gladful. It’s a reputation that we instantly related with.”

Both Dhruv (11) and Kabir (6.5) who’ve performed an integral half within the firm’s genesis and development have so much to say about their mom. “I’m an vital a part of Gladful. I style all merchandise and inform mother in regards to the ones I don’t like. I recommend concepts for the web site and even Instagram. Mom has additionally made Kabir and me a part of the photoshoots,” says Dhruv.

He can also be fast so as to add, “However, what I don’t like is that she has grow to be too aware over the past two years and is working on a regular basis.”

What’s on Offer

There are three candy cookies and three savoury cookies at the moment one can buy. Along with this, Parul says that the corporate has additionally launched a breakfast phase, with their sprouted chilla dosa mixes. While some are already out there a couple of others will probably be launched shortly.

The 300-gm jar is priced at Rs 300 and the 200 gm chilla dosa combine is priced at Rs 200. Dhruv’s favorite is the Orange cookie whereas Kabir likes the beetroot chilla. With inputs from over 1,000 mother and father from across the nation, every product was conceptualised. “We have stored in thoughts consuming habits, classes, events, and points in motivating their kids to eat healthily whereas making our merchandise,” says Parul.

All the merchandise are 100 per cent vegetarian micro-baked cookie bites fortified with rice, pea, and milk protein. The snacks are manufactured from complete wheat, unrefined cane sugar, and don’t use ammonia of their merchandise. “It isn’t just kids however now we have many adults who come again to us for our merchandise.”

“Some of those that purchase one product all the time come again and choose up a number of packets. That is so reassuring for us,” she provides.

Karishma Mehta, Head of Strategy at Thinkly, who has been utilizing Gladful merchandise, says, “As a mother to 2 women, aged 8 and 10, I’ve all the time been looking out for healthful nutritious meals, which the ladies could have with none tantrums. While you attempt your finest to provide children healthful home-cooked meals, everyone knows which approach that goes!”

She continues, “Gladful serves as the right snacking possibility for my children. It has excessive protein content material and can also be maida and cholesterol-free. The better part is that my children love the style and may virtually have it any time of the day! Also, the brand new savoury choices guarantee all of us within the household are hooked.”

Today, Gladful ships its merchandise pan India.

Looking ahead, Parul says, “We need to create a model that makes scrumptious protein-filled snacks within the nation for households to take pleasure in. At Gladful, we really feel now we have taken the primary few steps in that route.”

If you wish to order their merchandise, click here.

(Edited by Yoshita Rao)