Colonia, New Jersey (March 4, 2024) – Arya International LLC, family-owned manufacturer of award-winning Indian foods, proudly announces its recent certification as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) by the New York & New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc (The Council). This milestone achievement celebrates Arya’s Indian heritage and reflects a commitment from the company’s leadership to foster a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging for its team.
Arya was founded by first-generation immigrant and second-generation entrepreneur, Shridhar Patel, to introduce homestyle Indian foods and authentic flavors to the modern American family. The company’s flagship line is inspired by one of Patel’s childhood favorites—his mother’s scratch-made rotis, an unleavened Indian flatbread. In 2023, Arya revamped its ready-to-eat rotis to better support everyday wellness, Four preservative-free, all-natural flavors now feature plant-based ingredients like 100% whole wheat flour, pure avocado oil, fresh spinach and chia seeds.
“Our recognition as a Minority-Owned Business is a significant advantage for our focused expansion into natural and conventional grocery this year,” says Patel. “The certification opens doors to supplier diversity programs, grants and procurement initiatives that enable us to build direct relationships with retail buyers and distributors. These opportunities positions us to serve more customers, and ultimately to return more value to our stakeholders, partners and local economy.”
Arya’s MBE status broadens the company’s professional network of colleagues, industry leaders, service providers, vendors and advisors. Access to the MBE community’s collective insights will enrich Patel’s entrepreneurial journey and benefit the company’s goals for strategic, sustainable growth.
The application process for MBE certification involves meticulous verification of a company’s business practices, ownership, and operations. The Council is a regional chapter of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), which has its roots in the 1960’s civil rights movement. The NMSDC was created to advance economic equity in systematically excluded communities of color. Learn more at nmsdc.org.
About Arya International LLC
Established in 2017, Arya is a New Jersey-based brand making classic Indian comfort foods with a focus on clean ingredients, convenience and approachability. The certified minority-owned business is dedicated to delivering authentic tastes and textures without compromising nutrition. Arya’s flagship line of all-natural Rotis are crafted with whole grains, veggies and superfood spices, and are distributed nationally in most major Indian grocery chains and online ethnic retailers. In 2023, the brand expanded to the natural, specialty, conventional and foodservice channels, beginning with its plant-based rotis. Arya’s Golden Curry Roti is the recipient of a 2023 sofi™ Award for Best New Product, while its Cumin Spinach Roti won a 2023 Editor’s Choice NEXTY™ for Tasty Discovery, awarded by New Hope Network. For more information about Arya and their products, visit www.eatarya.com or connect via Linkedin @AryaFoods.
Contact: Victoria Ho, [email protected]