Retaaza’s Fresh Food Forward

Retaaza, a social enterprise founded by Kashi Sehgal in June 2020, aims to enhance the accessibility and affordability of local food. By supporting community farmers, reconnecting consumers with their food sources and addressing food insecurity, Retaaza strives to create positive social impact. Throughout its first year, Retaaza focused on refining its business strategy, engaging stakeholder, and testing various sales channels and pricing models. By July 2021, Retaaza had successfully launched its sales operations with its first client and demonstrated a sustainable for-profit business model.

The pivotal role of the Georgia Innovates Taskforce – Public Innovation subcommittee catalysed Retaaza’s growth. Securing funding from grants, including those from the USDA, became feasible due to Retaaza’s existing cash flow, facilitated by the Public Innovation subcommittee. This financial stability enabled Retaaza to expand its reach and amplify its message of refreshing the local food infrastructure across the state. Meaningful partnerships, impactful clients and exciting speaking opportunities emerged as a result of this amplified outreach.

Furthermore, Retaaza’s success is underscored by its ability to secure major grants, totalling $402,500 since its engagement with the Public Innovation subcommittee. These grants have provided crucial non-dilutive capital to advance Retaaza’s projects and research goals. Notably, initiatives such as the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) Grant and the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) Grant have enabled Retaaza to address food insecurity and promote access to healthy food in rural areas.

Looking ahead, Retaaza is poised for further growth and expansion in 2023. Key areas of focus include supporting small and underrepresented farmers, increasing revenue growth, enhancing technological infrastructure and fostering thought leadership in areas such as sustainability and community empowerment. By leveraging its successful business model and strategic partnerships, Retaaza aims to continue making a positive impact on local food systems and communities across Georgia.

Learn more about Retaaza’s work in their Midterm Report.