Image: Maazah
Maazah Afghan green chutney, $2 million seed funding and nationwide grocery expansion define the latest chapter for a Minneapolis food brand built by two sisters. Yasmeen and Sheilla Sajady began selling their mother’s recipe in 2014, and the business now makes dips and sauces inspired by Afghan and wider Middle Eastern cooking. From a young age their Mom (and aunties) taught them to cherished cooking techniques and treasured secrets of their culinary heritage (Image: Maazah) Maazah launched nationwide into Whole Foods Market in November 2024 with a sauce line in three varieties; cilantro chutney, mango chutney and lemon aioli, Food Business News reports.
Their stated mission is to reimagine Middle Eastern cuisine so that ordinary meals feel fresh and memorable while carrying the cultural heritage behind each recipe. The brand has since launched nationally into Sprouts Farmers Market and is growing its presence across several Costco regions. Its sauces have already earned nationwide listings with major grocers, and the fresh capital is meant to carry that momentum further. For the founders, the round marks the point where a family kitchen tradition becomes a serious national food business with the resources to keep expanding. Yasmeen and Sheilla Sajady are first-generation Afghan Americans, and their products’ flavours trace back to recipes their mother cherished, Signalbase reports. Nosh describes the company as one that reworks family recipes and culinary traditions for diverse shoppers who actively seek out new flavours.
Sheilla Sajady, co-founder of Maazah, told Food Bev News that the funding will help the company “accelerate growth while staying true to our roots and commitment to quality. The publication adds that the proceeds will also support product innovation.