KOCHI: In 1996, she was a new mother. When Bela Chordia begins to think about her child, nutrition tops the list. Almost 20 years and a lot of research later, she launched her own food company Superb. From meals, condiments, mixes to masalas, she makes them from scratch. And the best part: she uses millets as a nutritious alternative.
“In 2014, while I was strolling in a supermarket in Dubai, I saw various products made with millets. I thought it was Arabic food. It intrigued me and I began studying millets in depth and learnt that it’s nutritious as anything can ever be. And it’s of Indian origin.” Thus began her seven hours of experiments in the kitchen every day.
Bela recently celebrated Superb’s one-year anniversary but she wants more. She wants to grow as an entrepreneur and make Superb a national company.
Coming from a conservative family and having always been a homemaker, it’s her happy dream. “To be available across the country, my products must also be usable in ethnic cuisines, diverse cultures and lifestyles. It’s difficult but I’m already experimenting with various recipes,” she says and is looking to explore the possibility of using rice.
How healthy can it be? “Twenty-five products are already in the market and some of my best sellers are millet dosa, millet Pongal, khaman dhokla, tomato chutney and idly powder. Fifteen new products are in the pipeline. Before we launch anything, we conduct a market research with more than 500 people.”
They study digestibility and also the amount of nutrition bodies get from a particular grain, its’ side effects and also taste acceptance. She gets her daily dose of motivation from her husband who is also her business partner. Every time she thinks of herself as a business woman, “my soul gets excited.”
Check out her products at www.facebook.com/superbhealthfoods/