Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Mohammad Salehi, Co-Owner and CEO of Heray Spice, located in Chicago, IL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Heray Spice is a local business based in Chicago, Illinois, with a social mission to help farmers with better wages while helping chefs with the freshest and highest quality spices from Afghanistan.
We are also a farmer's co-operative based in Herat, Afghanistan, where we bring farmers together to train them on food safety, standard packaging, and safe processing of saffron. To import the highest quality saffron and pay our farmers better wages, Heray farms are owned by local farmers and have a partnership to only supply saffron for Heray Spice. Our farmers are being paid based on fair-trade principles. The primary customers in our business are individuals and companies in the food industry, such as restaurants, caterers, food manufacturers, and grocery stores. Additionally, individuals who enjoy cooking at home and preparing their own meals are also our customers.
I had an issue with my delivery (totally my fault) and yet in less than 24 hours it had been fixed by Heray team. I got my product and it appears to be very high quality, I'm excited to try it!
We recently purchased saffron that surpassed all our expectations. This saffron exhibited a deep crimson color, a strong and distinct aroma, and a subtle yet rich flavor. The threads were long and thick, indicative of its superior quality. It was packaged in an airtight container, preserving its freshness perfectly. This saffron met all the highest standards, making it the best we have ever used