Saffron Road

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Saffron Road Food
Company typePrivate
IndustryFood production and distribution
HeadquartersStamford, Connecticut
Areas served
United States
Key people
Adnan Durrani (founder)
Number of employees
28[1]
ParentAmerican Halal Company
Websitesaffronroad.com

Saffron Road is an American food brand.[2][3] It is a subsidiary of American Halal Company, Inc.[4] Saffron Road manufactures clean-label frozen foods, meal pouches, simmer sauces, family sized meals, and healthy snacks that are halal certified, all of which are made with ingredients from global cuisines.[5][6] Saffron Road products are sold through 25,000 retail locations[7] across the nation such as Whole Foods Market, Kroger, Safeway Inc., Giant Food Stores,[8] Publix, Sprouts Farmers Market[9] and H-E-B and Walmart, where it is the top natural protein-based entree.[10][11]

History[edit]

In 2009,[12] Adnan Durrani founded American Halal Company in Stamford, Connecticut.[6] The American Halal company sells halal certified food products under the brand Saffron Road Foods.[8] The name "Saffron Road" was inspired by Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road project.[13] In July 2010, Saffron Road was launched through Whole Foods.[14] Its products are halal certified, antibiotic free, gluten free, and non-gmo project verified.[15] Some products, like their simmer sauces, are also vegan. Ingredients come from family owned, sustainable farms.[16] In August 2015, American Halal acquired Mediterranean Snack Foods, a lentil snack food manufacturer, which was added to the Saffron Road line.[17]

By 2014, Saffron Road produced fifty different products.[18] Product lines include frozen entrees, appetizers and desserts, chicken nuggets and tenders, skillet sauces and broths,[16][19] and snacks such as Crunchy Chickpeas, BeanStalks[20] and ChickBean Crisps.[21] Before Saffron Road, CEO Adnan Durrani was a principal equity partner and director at Stonyfield Farm (now Groupe Danone) and founder of Vermont Pure Spring water.[2]

Recognition[edit]

Saffron Road was ranked number 642 on the Inc. 5000 list in 2015, number 703 in 2016, and 4800 in 2019.[22] It ranked third in natural frozen food sales in the United States by 2014.[23]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Dawn Reiss (May 24, 2021). "Saffron Road founder talks succeeding with Walmart". New Hope Network.
  2. ^ a b "Bringing a Muslim Culinary Tradition Mainstream". Inc. magazine. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  3. ^ "How to Succeed in Socially Responsible Business". The Wall Street Journal. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Top 10 Plant-Based Food Trends for 2021". The Healthy. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  5. ^ "20 Healthiest Sauces and Condiments to Keep in Your Pantry". Good Housekeeping. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  6. ^ a b Liz Skalka (February 13, 2017). "Muslim businessman finds challenges, graciousness in Stamford". Stamford Advocate.
  7. ^ "Nightly Business Report – February 1, 2017". NBR. February 1, 2017.
  8. ^ a b Jeff Green, Craig Giammona (September 14, 2016). "How Halal Food Became a $20 Billion Hit in America". Bloomberg.
  9. ^ Elaine Watson (March 26, 2014). "Frozen food 2.0: Saffron Road notches up triple-digit growth as shoppers seek flavor, authenticity, and 'clean food'". Food Navigator.
  10. ^ "Ignoring naysayers, CPG trendspotter forges path down the Saffron Road". Food Navigator. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  11. ^ Elaine Watson (October 3, 2012). "Saffron Road: 'The most successful natural food brands are built in mainstream supermarket retailers'". Food Innovation.
  12. ^ Patrick Clark (April 22, 2013). "From Bloggers' Wrath to Foodies' Delight: Saffron Road". Bloomberg.
  13. ^ Samuel G. Freedman (June 13, 2014). "A Muslim Entrepreneur Follows a Kosher Model to Mainstream Success". The New York Times.
  14. ^ Emma Janzen (April 2015). "Saffron Road Goes Above and Beyond Organic". Profile Magazine.
  15. ^ "The 10 Best Vegan Simmer Sauce Brands". Veg Out. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Saffron Road". Profile Magazine. April 2015.
  17. ^ "American Halal Buys Mediterranean Snack Foods". Specialty Food Association. August 24, 2015.
  18. ^ Michael Wolfe (March 28, 2016). "Muslim Business Entrepreneurs and the American Economy". Huffington Post.
  19. ^ Monica Watrous (February 2, 2015). "Q&A: Saffron Road on the fast track". Food Business News.
  20. ^ Kacey Culliney (June 18, 2012). "Halal specialist's chickpea snacks hold health appeal". Bakery and Snacks.
  21. ^ Natalie Taylor (June 20, 2017). "Saffron Road To Reveal New Look at Summer Fancy Food Show". Grocery Headquarters.
  22. ^ "Saffron Road Foods". Inc.
  23. ^ "Introducing Your Next Healthy Food Trend: Halal And Kosher". Fast Company. July 15, 2014.