New Funding Brings Indian Spice to Everyday Life

PHILADELPHIA, March 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovators in Indian-inspired snacks and condiments, Bandar Foods announced today it has closed on $2 million in Series Seed capital. The Philadelphia and San Francisco based company offers a new take on traditional Indian flavors in the form of classic, snack-able products including Naan chips, Poppadum chips and Indian style condiments. The investment will be used to execute an expansion of Bandar's retail footprint, team and working capital.

"Our mission is to introduce delicious Indian flavors to everyday eating occasions.  We are thrilled for this investment which brings us one step closer toward building an iconic Indian-inspired brand for the modern age," said Lalit Kalani, co-founder.

While the introduction of Indian cuisine as a packaged food is not new, Bandar Foods has proven to be a true disruptor in the condiment and snacking space, reimagining traditional flavors in a way that can be enjoyed as an on-the-go snack food out of the dining room.

Among those backing Bandar in this round of financing are ACP, AccelFoods, Volta Global, and the Wharton School of Business Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship, Karl Ulrich.

Bandar is a recent graduate of AccelFoods, an early-stage investment platform known for curating innovative brands in the packaged food & beverage industry. AccelFoods invests in high-growth companies and applies its suite of proprietary resources to help them grow big. Bandar founders, Lalit Kalani and Dan Garblik, participated in AccelFoods' third accelerator cohort in 2015.

AccelFoods Co-Founder and Managing Partner Lauren Jupiter stated, "As investors, we strive to identify and invest in sustainable trends. Indian inspired foods are a new frontier in the healthy snack foods space and we are proud to have partnered with this category defining brand."

Ulrich added, "I have known Lalit and Dan from their early days when they first introduced their idea in the classroom. They are building an innovative platform that is exciting for consumers looking for big flavors and unique tastes."

Additionally, Bandar is excited to announce that celebrated chef Floyd Cardoz will be the company's Culinary Advisor. Cardoz is one of the foremost Indian-American culinary minds, having previously worked as the Executive Chef of both Tabla and North End Grill and winning Season Three of Bravo's Top Chef Masters.  He is currently the culinary director at The Bombay Canteen and his latest venture is Paowalla in NYC. Cardoz stated, "As someone who has built a career marrying Indian flavors with Western technique, I'm very excited to work with the Bandar team to bring incredibly delicious, innovative products to life." 

ABOUT BANDAR FOODS
Bandar Foods re-imagines popular Indian flavors for an everyday American audience. Bandar's line of snacks and condiments brings these Indian tastes to new categories and delivers a unique flavor experience in a familiar format. www.bandarfoods.com

ABOUT ACP
ACP, a Singapore based Venture Capital Fund, is one of Bandar's early investors and is joining the board as an observer in this round. www.acpven.com

ABOUT ACCELFOODS
AccelFoods invests in innovative, cutting-edge, high growth, early-stage brands in the packaged food and beverage space, partnering with founders representing the highest standards of professionalism, quality, and disruption to help them realize their visions. To learn more please visit the AccelFoods website at:http://www.accelfoods.com.

ABOUT VOLTA GLOBAL
Volta Global is a private investment firm with a global, multi-faceted investment strategy across venture capital, private equity, real estate, and public markets. Volta is joining the board as an observer in this round.  www.volta.global.

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SOURCE Bandar Foods

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http://www.bandarfoods.com