Meet the sisters serving up tasty vegan Indian treats

Geeta Salhan is the co-founder of Green Sisters, which provides frozen and chilled vegan Indian food that is free from gluten, wheat and dairy.

The business, which Geeta runs with her sister Reena, came about as a result of her personal experience with struggling to find healthy and tasty food that fitted with her gluten free and vegetarian diet.

She shares her business story and how a Bootcamp as part of the Amazon Small Business Accelerator boosted her skills and prepared the company for launching on Amazon's online store.

The free Amazon Small Business Accelerator e-learning programme is advice from more than 30 business experts in 218 bitesize videos. 
 
If you're already an Enterprise Nation member, log-in to your member dashboard to access the e-learning. If you're not an Enterprise Nation member, you can join the Amazon Small Business Accelerator for free here.

How did you come up with the idea for your business?

The idea came through personal challenges we faced as a family, when I had a medical diagnosis and removed gluten from my diet completely. I had already chosen to be vegetarian at age seven, so it was almost impossible to find suitable food options. I was often left feeling excluded, compromised and we felt a sense of sadness as a family, as simple tasks became onerous and unnecessarily difficult.

No matter if you're plant-based and nut free, a vegan following a gluten free diet, or any other combination of major allergens and food preferences, we help individuals to have a full and uncompromised diet, with access to food choices that don't compromise on flavour.

With an increased need for safe and nutritious food, we are proud to innovate with some of the most amazing and healthy Asian meals and samosas. We have translated new favourites for our Choco'Licious and Veggie'Licious samosas. Two samosas constitute one of your five a day!

We have created a truly inclusive portfolio of products to enable choice, nutrition and access to delicious 'free from' plant-based food, that doesn't compromise on flavour. All our core range of products are free from 14 major allergens and are mindful of nutritional balance. (I'm a qualified nutritionist). Of equal importance, they taste great and can be enjoyed by everyone around the table.

What start-up challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

Removing all 14 allergens from the core range presented challenges in the supply chain. Sourcing ingredients from appropriate suppliers and distribution channels for frozen and chilled products were other challenges and releasing and transporting products that we were absolutely sure would be reliable for superior quality and taste, despite removing allergens has been significantly difficult.

We spent much of 2020 making changes to our packaging, so the products arrive perfectly, and is also is in line with our sustainable material sourcing policies.

What is your marketing strategy for engaging with customers and making sales?

More than ever, it has been important to communicate and connect with our customers, colleagues and partners, and like everyone, we've had to adapt the way we do this through a clear focus on digital marketing. We have also used new platforms to maintain relationships such as a CRM system and engaged in collaborations with businesses serving similar customer needs.

How has COVID-19 affected your business?

During the pandemic, we have found that people with several dietary needs have been incredibly challenged in being able to get good quality, tasty food delivered to their door. This inspired us to launch our gluten free Indian food boxes. They are available for nationwide delivery in the UK.

Through this service, we've been able to reach our customers safely at home, which has been especially useful for customers who are shielding.

Why did you decide to register for the Amazon Bootcamp?

It is important that we communicate and connect with our target customers and we need a platform that can do this well.

It's an exciting time to work with Amazon. It can enable better access for our customers and is a great way for food producers like Green Sisters to reconnect with a larger group of customers, allowing them to easily find our products.

What were the key benefits of the Amazon Bootcamp for your business?

The Bootcamp gave us an understanding of how a business such as ours, which delivers chilled goods, can feature on Amazon with a seamless service for customers across the nation.

It connected us with the right information, including online store onboarding, setting up barcodes and insights on how to have a great product listing, all from individuals who have done it many times before. Hugely valuable!

What actions did you take after taking part in the Bootcamp?

We started to put together our strategy for 2021 including barcodes. Our plan for our online shop launch is taking shape so that we can get the best possible listing the first time.

We feel confident about Amazon and we will launch at a time that enables us to have a great start. We feel much more empowered to do so, with the knowledge that we gained at the Bootcamp.

What are your top tips for business success based on your experience so far?

Passion, perseverance and dedication.

Create a business that inspires you, so when the odds are not set for you, you'll still power through the barriers. Embrace every opportunity with an open mind.

Remember that 'no' is usually code for 'not now', rather than a dead set impossibility for the future.

Which other entrepreneurs inspire you and why?

We are inspired by businesses that make positive changes with a huge purpose. One is Irene Breen, founder of BellaMoon, who has a wonderful product that enhances the pre- and post-natal experience for mothers.

I also like social entrepreneurs such as Asha Patel from Innovating Minds for her dedication to making a difference and more established business leaders, such as local heroes at the Little Soap Company, Jamie Oliver and Simon Sinek, who have remained true to themselves and shown real purpose.

Finally, Deborah Meaden from Dragons' Den who both inspires us with her work and life ethic, hunger and dedication, but terrifies us in the same breath. What a woman!

The free Amazon Small Business Accelerator e-learning programme is advice from more than 30 business experts in 218 bitesize videos. 
 
If you're already an Enterprise Nation member, log-in to your member dashboard to access the e-learning. If you're not an Enterprise Nation member, you can join the Amazon Small Business Accelerator for free here.