Two sisters turned their mother’s Afghan green chutney into a national grocery brand as Maazah raises $2 million to expand its sauces across American supermarkets

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. 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.How two first-generation Afghan American sisters turned their mother’s recipes into a food brandYasmeen and Sheilla Sajady are first-generation Afghan Americans, and their products' flavours trace back to recipes their mother cherished, Signalbase 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. Nosh describes the company as one that reworks family recipes and culinary traditions for diverse shoppers who actively seek out new flavours.Minnesota family offices back the seed round to scale production and strengthen supply chainsThe round was backed by a group of Minnesota-based family offices, according to the report. The money is earmarked for expanding production capacity, improving supply chain infrastructure, tightening in-store retail execution and opening new markets. The company says it is focused on deepening relationships with national and regional retailers while building brand awareness across the United States.Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market and Costco widen where shoppers can find the saucesMaazah 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. The brand has since launched nationally into Sprouts Farmers Market and is growing its presence across several Costco regions.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.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.