Foodstree is a one stop destination for every foodie’s culinary needs and adventures. It is an online curated marketplace that retails the best artisanal food products sourced from small manufacturers all over the country. We specialize in products that are made fresh, in small batches, using local or unique ingredients in the most sustainable and additive-freemanner possible.Foodstreenow has over 80 vendors and 1000+ hand-picked products spanning a range of categories – including superfoods, healthy snacks, daily staples, alternate diet foods as well as difficult-to-find niche products.
What is inspiration behind foodstree?
The main driving force behind Foodstree was to provide a platform for customers to discoverthe large number of food entrepreneurs who were producing unique, great products but were only popular in their local areas and unheard of on a national scale.
It was a win-win proposition – promoting the makers as well as bringing variety and ease to consumers.
There is a general perception that the range and quality of food products within India is sub-par compared to abroad – this is something we disagreed with and wanted to change by bringing to the forefront these smaller artisanal manufacturers. There was no dearth of products, simply a lack of visibility and awareness – which is where we decided to step in.
What was the most challenging part of your journey till now? How did you overcome these challenges?*
One of the biggest challenges has been overcoming the ‘discount culture’ that is prevalent in Indian e-commerce. Due to the nature of our products, and our goal to support our vendors, we aren’t able to offer the 50% off prices that consumers have become accustomed to. We are combatting this by spreading awareness about the sustainable and societally responsible sourcing of our goods, so customers understand the reason behind our regular pricing and why we are able to give only minor discounts.
How you think your initiative could change the society/industry.*
The foremost way Foodstree helps bring about change is by promoting small producers and cottage industries. Supporting these local manufacturers and their sustainable methods is key to a thriving Indian artisanal food scene and is beneficial not only to the economy but environment as well.
The second change is by transforming what we, as a society, eat. Mass-produced, unhealthy options have overrun markets. By facilitating easy access to high quality products and bringing visibility to healthier home-grown alternatives we aim to help build a culture of being more aware about food and eating better.
What are your plans for next 3 years?
Grow, grow and grow! As the average consumer grows more conscious, informed and careful in picking their food choices, Foodstree aims to become a haven for the discerning foodie.