Your name:  Alfonso Tejada

Year the company was started:  OA Foods created Palmini in 2017.

Where are the products made: Our company is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

What is the ‘key ingredient’ that makes your product line special? 

Our products are made from a natural plant known as heart of palm! When this plant is cut and cooked in the proper way, its resemblance to your favourite high carb dish is extraordinary.

What motivated you to start your company and create the products that we see today? 

Back in 2012, I noticed a trend in the market toward healthy foods. I am originally from Bolivia and began by importing quinoa and chia from my country. I wanted to create something more innovative and original to address this gap in the market. This is when Palmini was created! I have always loved hearts of palm and knew the possibilities for this vegetable laid far beyond just being eaten by itself. Palmini’s resemblance to regular pasta, rice, and mashed is extraordinary. I prefer it to the real thing! I am so proud that we have been able to expand our product line since first launching.

What are your company’s core values?

Some of our company’s core values include innovation, teamwork, and quality. We are always looking for new ways to enter the health foods market and expand Palmini! Healthy never has to be boring and we are committed to that. Since launching, we have continued to innovate and now offer a variety of products including Palmini linguine, angel hair, lasagna, rice, and mashed! Bringing high-quality foods to our customers is something we do not overlook.

We are a small group based out of Miami and we always work closely together as a team. I think that is something special about OA Foods!

If you could tell a retailer three things about what makes your brand different, what would they be?

If I could tell a retailer three things about Palmini that makes us different, I would include..

1) We are devoted to creating a high-quality product that is also sustainable. We ensure that our palm trees are harvested in existing fields using a multi-stem system. The tree is never cut down in the process. It can regrow sustainably for years!

2) Giving back is one of our utmost priorities. A portion of our sales are donated back to children who need it the most. In 2021, we created a music room for the children of Creamos.

3) Our brand can fit seamlessly into any and every diet! It is gluten free, sugar free, keto friendly, paleo, vegan, weight watcher approved and many more!

What are some of the challenges that you’ve overcome to bring your business to its current state?

Creating a new product is always difficult. We were the first hearts of palm pasta product on the market! At the same time, many people did not even know what hearts of palm was. Educating our audience was initially a challenge, but once the consumer tries Palmini they are running back for more!