Food Entrepreneur - October 12, 2021 - 6

FOOD ENTREPRENEUR®
A SEAT AT
THE TABLE
Meet the founders elevating global flavors and
pushing for representation on retail shelves
BY MONICA WATROUS
A
merican grocery store shelves do
not mirror the nation's population.
Founders, investors and
other industry leaders are determined to
change that.
" The reality is that the American
population is not homogeneous, and in
a country where almost 40% identify as
non-white we need to be uplifting and
celebrating the flavors of our people, " said
Karina Martinez, founder of public relations
firm Avana Creative and a founding
member of The New American Table. " It's
been exciting to see how more brands are
unapologetically leaning into their roots
and teaching others the importance of decolonizing
their plates and bringing to life
flavors they feel personally connected to. "
Omsom, the " proud, loud Asian
home cooking " brand founded by sisters
Vanessa and Kim Pham, debuted last
spring and gained acclaim among chefs,
food writers and influencers.
The New York-based startup offers
a line of meal starters, combining the
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sauces, aromatics, seasonings and oils
needed to cook a specific dish, such as Thai
larb, Korean spicy bulgogi or Vietnamese
lemongrass barbecue. The products are developed
in collaboration with tastemakers
(who are equitably compensated) specializing
in cuisines spanning Southeast and
East Asia. Omsom sold half a million units
on its website in a little over a year.
" Omsom was born out of our lifetime
Vanessa (left)
and Kim Pham
October 12, 2021
OMSOM
Food Entrepreneur - October 12, 2021

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