Meal Mantra Selected as Part of ‘Business Growth Visibility Campaign'

Contact: Johnny Corson, [email protected], (617) 419-6989

BOSTON, MA – Meal Mantra, a local Indian heirloom family sauce-maker, has been selected as part of the newly launched ‘Business Growth Visibility Campaign’ to help level the playing field for entrepreneurs from traditionally underserved communities by providing them with individualized public relations and media services, business-to-business (B2B) purchasing, and partnerships with supplier diversity programs during the 2024 program.

The campaign is the brainchild of the recently formed Business Growth Task Force -- founded by Eastern Bank Foundation and comprised of 19 community partners -- to focus on creating visibility and business opportunities, increased access to contracts, and relationship building to spur growth for diverse businesses.

Meal Mantra’s selection, along with 10 other companies in Cohort 1 of the campaign, was announced during a press conference at the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

“Entrepreneurs of color, as well as women and LGBTQ-owned businesses, have been historically stifled in the small business ecosystem because of inherent bias and systemic ‘isms,’” said Nancy Huntington Stager, President and CEO of Eastern Bank Foundation. “This innovative campaign seeks to address these challenges by building awareness, connections, and opportunity for business expansion. We are proud to support the efforts of the Business Growth Task Force and the dynamic small businesses they work with as part of our strategy to help advance economic inclusion and mobility.”

“When my grandfather pioneered Tandoori Cuisine in India, he understood how the simple pleasures of cooking could balance out a whirlwind life,” said Meal Mantra co-founder Anu Bhalla. “With Meal Mantra, we want to share my family’s historic culinary delights with as many people as possible, and are honored to be selected as part of this campaign.”

Campaign seed-funding was provided by Eastern Bank Foundation and is expected to assist 25 businesses this year, with plans to include other funders for cohorts in future years.

About Meal Mantra:

Meal Mantra is a line of authentic, all-natural Indian Curry sauces made in the USA. Co-founder Anu learned to appreciate the wonderful art of cooking at an early age when she would follow her grandfather Kundan Lal Gujral, inventor of the Tandoori Cuisine, as he pioneered dishes such as Dal Makhani, Tandoori Chicken and Butter Chicken – the inspiration for the now global favorite Chicken Tikka Masala.

(Shop today at www.mealmantra.com)

Anu and her husband and co-founder Tarun take pride in their passion of creating all natural ingredients & flavorful spices. As a result, Meal Mantra sauces are hand with heirloom family recipes. The Boston Globe has praised Meal Mantra’s sauces as, “Simmered in history.”

Meal Mantra joins the group of 11 initial firms selected for the Business Growth Visibility Campaign, including: Waku, Nüssli118°, Emmaty, KT & T Distributors, City Sealcoating, Starz & Cloudz, Mass Signal Service, Back to Home Healthcare Services, Nicoya Construction, and Seaport Consulting.

Members of the Business Growth Task Force include: Asian Business Empowerment Council, Associated Industries of Massachusetts, BDC Community Capital, Black Economic Council of MA, Builders of Color Coalition, Center for Women & Enterprise, Commonwealth Kitchen, Emerald Cities Collaborative, Foundation for Business Equity/MCCI, Interise, Lawyers for Civil Rights Boston, LEAF, LISC Boston, MA LGBT Chamber of Commerce, New Majority Capital, Pacesetters, Small Business Strong, Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, Women Of Color Entrepreneurs (WOCE), and Eastern Bank Foundation as founder.