Gama spoke to Sakshi Mittal, Founder & CEO at Foodhak.
Read this Industry Insight in the next issue of Gama News.
Foodhak combines health-tech and personalized nutrition. How is the modern consumer’s understanding of ‘healthy eating’ changing, and how does your artificial intelligence driven model respond to that?
The modern consumer is rapidly moving past generic health buzzwords like ‘low fat’ or ‘sugar-free’ and seeking deep, science-backed transparency. They increasingly view food not just as fuel, but as preventative medicine. Our AI technology scans millions of clinical and nutritional research papers to actively map the specific links between clean ingredients, reduced inflammation, and longevity. By translating complex data science into delicious, ready-to-eat meals, we act as a ‘nutritionist in your pocket,’ giving consumers personalized control over their health outcomes without sacrificing convenience.
Your brand philosophy emphasizes the removal of inflammatory ingredients like refined sugars and gluten. From an innovation perspective, what is the key to creating delicious, culturally diverse recipes within these strict clean-label parameters?
The key is smart, uncompromising ingredient swaps backed by rigorous culinary R&D. Traditional packaged foods often rely on processed additives or refined starches to mimic texture and taste, which can lead to chronic inflammation. We challenge that standard by using naturally nutrient-dense superfoods and Ayurvedic principles. Whether we are developing any new product, the goal is to enhance the natural flavour profile through herbs and spices rather than artificial fillers. It’s about proving that clinically backed food can taste spectacular.
Navigating a premium wellness offering in the present economic climate is a challenge across FMCG. How do you shift the consumer perspective from viewing personalized nutrition as a premium luxury to an essential investment?
It comes down to redefining value from reactive to proactive. Modern healthcare is fundamentally reactive, treating chronic illnesses after they develop. We shift the narrative by demonstrating the immediate, tangible benefits of preventative eating: sustained energy, clearer focus, and better long-term vitality. When consumers realize that investing in clean, anti-inflammatory food directly impacts their daily productivity and quality of life, it stops being viewed as a premium luxury and becomes an essential, proactive investment in their well-being.
As a founder who has successfully disrupted the premium wellness space, what is the single most important piece of advice you would give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to scale an independent, mission-driven food brand today?
Stay completely unshakeable about your core mission, but remain entirely agile about how you deliver it. When you are building a purpose-led brand, you will constantly face pressures to compromise on ingredient quality or cut corners to lower production costs. You have to resist that, because your authenticity is your ultimate brand equity. However, you must listen closely to your community and pivot your formats or technology to fit their actual daily routines. A great product only succeeds if it integrates seamlessly into the modern consumer’s busy lifestyle.
Looking ahead to the remainder of 2026, what do you believe will be the biggest technological disruption shaping the future of the functional food industry?
The absolute defining shift will be hyper-individualisation driven by bio-data. We are moving toward a future where meal plans will be dynamically tailored to a person’s specific biomarker or genetic profile in real time. The generic, one-size-fits-all model of food production is becoming obsolete. The brands that win will be those that can successfully bridge the gap between hard clinical data and daily lifestyle convenience, turning actionable health insights into enjoyable, everyday eating habits.
