Women-Led Startup Incubated at ICAR-CIFT Launches Innovative Functional Snack Bar Range

              From left to right: Dr. Nikita Gopal, Ms. Lakshmi Ikarath Charudath, Dr. George Ninan, Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan and Mrs. Jenny C.M.

ICAR-CIFT, in support of empowering women-led entrepreneurship in the functional food sector, facilitated the launch of an innovative range of “clean-label” health snack products by M/s Trueblend Foods Pvt. Ltd., Kochi, Kerala. The products under the brand name ‘Pixie Meal’ were formally unveiled by Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan, Director, CSIR-NIIST, Trivandrum, alongside Dr. George Ninan, Director, ICAR-CIFT, during the 69^th Foundation Day celebrations of ICAR-CIFT.

The newly launched product range, comprising Seed Cycling Bars and Nut Butter Bites, was developed under the technical guidance of ICAR-CIFT with specialised support in nutritional formulation and product standardisation. The initiative was undertaken by Ms. Lakshmi Ikarath Charudath, founder and Director of the company.

The technical support for this product development was given by ICAR-CIFT Scientific team members comprising Dr. Remya S., Dr. Sarika K., and Dr.Bindu J. Through the ZTM-ABI Centre, ICAR-CIFT continues to promote technology-based startups by extending incubation facilities, scientific expertise, and market-oriented support, particularly to emerging women entrepreneurs in the food and fisheries sector.