This Facet Hustle Highlight Q&A options 35-year-old New York Metropolis-based entrepreneur Mehek Khera. Khera is the founder and CEO of Niramaya Meals, a snack model “rooted in wellness and impressed by Indian heritage.”On the age of 24, Khera left New Delhi, India and immigrated to the U.S., the place she landed a job at Walmart. Then burnout and well being points motivated her to begin a health-forward aspect hustle. Niramaya is hitting $1 million in income for the primary time in 2025. Find out how Khera remodeled Niramaya into the profitable enterprise behind Naan pretzels and dips, right here. Responses have been edited for size and readability.
Picture Credit score: Niramaya Meals. Mehek Khera.
Wish to learn extra tales like this? Subscribe to Cash Makers, our free e-newsletter filled with artistic aspect hustle concepts and profitable methods. Enroll right here.What was your day job or major occupation while you began your aspect hustle?I used to be working in retail at Walmart ecommerce, managing the class and provide chain for magnificence and attire. It was fast-paced, high-pressure and fulfilling in some ways — however over time, the lengthy hours, lack of actual meals and stress started to take a toll on my physique and thoughts.Associated: This 26-12 months-Outdated’s Facet Hustle Turned Full-Time Enterprise Led to $100,000 in 2.5 Months and Is On Observe for $2.5 Million in 2025When did you begin your aspect hustle, and the place did you discover the inspiration for it?Niramaya started to type in 2020, throughout a season of burnout and well being struggles. I used to be coping with persistent, undiagnosed autoimmune circumstances and could not discover solutions. I left my job and turned to diet faculty — and thru that, rediscovered the therapeutic energy of the meals I grew up with: vibrant dals, purposeful spices, sabzis produced from contemporary greens. I noticed these recipes, handed down by way of generations, had been drugs in themselves, and but, I could not discover them on any shelf in a manner that felt clear, handy or trendy. That hole between tradition and comfort, custom and in the present day, grew to become the muse for Niramaya.
What had been a few of the first steps you took to get your aspect hustle off the bottom? How a lot cash/funding did it take to launch?I began in my kitchen, enjoying with recipes, taking suggestions significantly and testing early variations at native markets. I knew I could not do that casually, so I saved up about $50,000 over two years to afford the minimal order portions for our first co-manufacturer. I researched tirelessly, made tons of of cellphone calls and finally discovered a accomplice that aligned with our mission. We developed early packaging, launched a small web site and put actual merchandise into individuals’s fingers. That is when the magic began.Associated: This 29-12 months-Outdated’s Facet Hustle Introduced Individuals ‘to the Darkish Inexperienced Facet.’ It Made $10,000 Inside 2 Days and Sees 6 Figures a Month.Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Niramaya Meals
Are there any free or paid sources that had been particularly useful?Founder networks like Startup CPG, Naturally Community and SKU Accelerator made a world of distinction. Slack teams for CPG founders had been quick, brutally trustworthy and extremely supportive. On the instruments aspect: Notion for monitoring every part, Canva for design, QuickBooks for funds. However essentially the most invaluable useful resource by far? Speaking to customers face-to-face throughout demos. No software program can exchange that.For those who may return and alter one course of or strategy, what wouldn’t it be?I would not change the trail — each problem taught me one thing I wanted. However I’d higher put together for the sheer useful resource drain. Funds twice the cash and provides your self twice the time. All the things takes longer and prices greater than you suppose — and that is not a flaw: It is simply the character of the sport.Associated: They Began a Facet Hustle Producing an ‘Apparent’ Meals Merchandise. It Hit $300,000 Month-to-month Income Quick — On Observe for Over $20 Million in 2025.What’s one thing about this aspect hustle turned enterprise that shocked or challenged you essentially the most?How capital-intensive retail actually is. Getting onto cabinets is simply the beginning — then comes the actual work of driving velocity, educating the patron and staying top-of-mind. One other problem was re-educating individuals about Indian meals. So many assume it is simply “heavy curry.” However our delicacies is a lot extra: vibrant, clear, gut-friendly, plant-forward. Translating that reality by way of packaging, product and language has been each a problem and a privilege.
Are you able to recall a particular second when one thing went unsuitable — how did you deal with it?At considered one of our early retail companions, our dips had been priced too excessive and positioned on the very prime shelf — virtually invisible to the patron. Somewhat than panic, I calmly reached out to the client with gross sales knowledge and shelf psychology insights and supplied to assist with demos and social posts if they’d think about revisiting worth and placement. They agreed. That second jogged my memory that being proactive, respectful and solutions-oriented goes a good distance in retail.Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Niramaya FoodsHow lengthy did it take to see constant income?We began seeing regular traction round 9 months in. We started with smaller independents, just a few regional shops and quite a lot of in-person occasions. It was grassroots, but it surely taught me easy methods to hear, adapt and scale responsibly.
What does progress and income appear to be in the present day?Right now, Niramaya is on the market in over 1,200 retail doorways throughout the nation, together with Sprouts, Albertsons and a robust base of New York Metropolis independents. This will likely be our first yr in seven figures. We’re launching new SKUs and doubling down on retailers who consider in what we’re constructing.What do you take pleasure in most about working this enterprise?The deep artistic satisfaction of constructing one thing that feels true and seeing it contact individuals. When somebody says, “I’ve by no means tasted something so clear and daring without delay,” I do know we’re doing one thing significant. We’re not simply promoting meals: We’re shifting the notion of Indian flavors and bringing extra individuals into the fold.Associated: Bored with ‘Culturally Obtuse’ Merchandise, This 27-12 months-Outdated Took His Facet Hustle From $1,000 a Month to 7-Determine Income: ‘Choose the Proper Alternative to Pursue’What’s your finest piece of particular, actionable enterprise recommendation? Begin earlier than you are feeling “prepared.” However do not construct in a bubble. Get suggestions consistently, particularly out of your prospects. Keep lean. Construct belief along with your companions. Do not be afraid to ask dumb questions. And bear in mind — relationships will carry you farther than any advertising and marketing marketing campaign. Be beneficiant, be trustworthy and comply with by way of.
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This Facet Hustle Highlight Q&A options 35-year-old New York Metropolis-based entrepreneur Mehek Khera. Khera is the founder and CEO of Niramaya Meals, a snack model “rooted in wellness and impressed by Indian heritage.”On the age of 24, Khera left New Delhi, India and immigrated to the U.S., the place she landed a job at Walmart. Then burnout and well being points motivated her to begin a health-forward aspect hustle. Niramaya is hitting $1 million in income for the primary time in 2025. Find out how Khera remodeled Niramaya into the profitable enterprise behind Naan pretzels and dips, right here. Responses have been edited for size and readability.
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