OEN NewsBuilding Generational Health and Community Through Plant Bomb’s Vegan Sauces
Food culture has long been a part of Rajiv Harry’s life and story. Growing up in Portland with a father from Trinidad and Tobago, there was no shortage of flavor and connection around plates at the dinner table. After college, Harry’s dad suggested he take a job at a local catering company. Harry ended up spending over ten years there, working his way up to sous chef.
“Catering is different than a restaurant, it’s more like a traveling circus,” Harry explains. “I gained a wide variety of skills in that job, and I’m very thankful.”
While building his culinary skills, Harry developed a passion for fitness. Health had always been on his mind as someone who saw multiple family members deal with metabolic disease.
“Chronic diseases plagued both sides of my family, and I started practicing plant-based nutrition for myself with the awareness of how that lifestyle could be preventative,” he says. “I realized how much power there is in what we put on our plates.”
His interest in how food and health intertwined grew and eventually led him to pursue education as a personal trainer. Thanks to the benefits Harry saw in his own health, he wanted to share with others the power of this lifestyle in terms of both physical and mental health. Harry also became more aware of practices in the agriculture and food industries that are detrimental to overall health.
“There are a lot of processed goods just riddled with inflammatory ingredients that don’t nurture our health,” he explains.
Grounded in his own family history, Harry saw an opportunity to change decades long stories and help others through his passions and expertise. “I wanted to empower others to understand that through what we choose to put on our plates, we can change strongholds of sickness within our families,” he says.
Harry’s personal training approach is a holistic one, differentiated by his knowledge of nutrition. While this part of his life took off, friends encouraged him to keep using his culinary skills, too. And there a seed was planted: Harry saw a way to reach more people and impact their health by combining his skills in crafting tasty dishes and health awareness.
“I was with a friend at a plant-based cafe, and we were discussing how something simple like a sauce can change any dish into something satisfying,” he says. “That got me thinking about product ideas that could help others see that, too.”
Harry dove into research around the effects of processed foods in the market, including the inflammation unhealthy options can cause. He began developing an idea for sauces that weren’t necessarily “health” products but included all natural ingredients. And then, just when things were taking shape, the COVID-19 pandemic arrived.
“Right at the beginning of this, everything shut down,” Harry explains. “Yet, that gave me an unlikely gift: time.”
Harry worked hard throughout the pandemic’s uncertainty to keep the budding idea alive, conducting virtual product tastings with vegan chefs and fine tuning how to make the sauces shelf stable. The dedication paid off, and Plant Bomb launched in December 2021 with three unique sauces built on flavor and wholesome ingredients.
“We aim for bold and exciting flavors that make healthy eating at home easier,” Harry says.
Plant Bomb’s initial launch was direct to consumer only, and the company has since expanded to include grocery retail. The company has built a presence at various pitch events, including becoming an OEN Oregon Angel Food finalist. Plant Bomb is now in a growth fundraising stage, with plans to take on equity investment and expand the product line in the coming year.
Harry says he’s learned a lot on the fly as a founder, taking his knowledge of food into things like supply chain management and marketing. He says communities where people can troubleshoot together, like start up accelerators and OEN, have been important in Plant Bomb’s growth. Having a home base in Portland, where there’s more awareness of the benefits of plant-based lifestyles, has also helped.
“I’m a spiritual person,” Harry notes. “I believe there’s a reason I started Plant Bomb here, and I hope more of the world gets to see the amazing small business ecosystem we have in Portland.”
Harry recommends other founders get clear on their mission and values to weather the challenges that come their way. Having strong core values and staying consistent are two keys to Harry’s initial success with Plant Bomb. Those pillars were critical in his personal health journey, and they sustain his work at Plant Bomb when the startup life gets difficult.
“As a founder you have to have faith in your product,” Harry says. “When you’re feeling fearful, be willing to stay there and make that extra phone call or send the email and keep going.”
Produced by A.wordsmith for OEN
