Danielle Petricevic and Alejandra Perez Fernandez, co-founders of the self-funded startup Ento, hope their new ‘entovegan’ product will chime a chord with the rising variety of nutritionally and environmentally-conscious shoppers within the UK.
The women each grew up in areas the place the well being advantages of bugs have been frequent information.
“Rising up in Mexico, the commonest insect eaten there may be crickets. We might have them on tacos or simply on their very own as a snack with some salt and lemon or chilli,” says Perez Fernandez.
“It’s well-known there that they’re a very wholesome. It’s the form of factor your grandma tells you while you’re a baby.”
Equally, Petricevic had an analogous expertise rising up in South Korea.
They each moved to the UK over a decade in the past and it was about 4 years in the past that they met on the college gates and ultimately realised their
shared curiosity in bringing this important meals supply to native plates.
“One afternoon, shortly earlier than COVID hit, we have been discussing entomophagy (the behaviour of consuming bugs), and we each noticed a market in various protein utilizing bugs.”
Coming from a background in graphic design and economics, vitamin was a totally new house for each the founders.
And as if this wasn’t difficult sufficient, COVID hit shortly after they began planning their enterprise they usually discovered themselves performing as house college academics while additionally attempting to construct the enterprise.
Inevitably, the pandemic brought on delays all through the method however their launch product, Ento Cacao protein mix, was made accessible D2C on-line a number of weeks in the past and it additionally launched on Amazon final week (November 1st).
Perez explains how their product, made with edible mealworm, pea and brown rice protein, differs from different insect protein available on the market.
“We consider our product is extra versatile than some others available on the market that are aimed toward health club goers. You’ll be able to bake with the powder and add it to your breakfast cereal. It’s even nice for making wholesome snacks for youths.”
Perez Fernandez provides: “We additionally consider the flavour is rather a lot higher than different insect proteins available on the market. Ours has a great high quality non-alkalised cacao so it tastes extra decadent and has a greater vitamin profile than alkalised cacao.”
The founders say the cricket powder supplies greater than 60% protein (greater than rooster, beef, pea, beans. lentils, soybeans and eggs) in addition to greater than 20 nutritional vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, plus 7.7g of important amino acids together with all BCAAs, and digestive enzymes, making a extremely digestible and bioavailable protein. The mix additionally comprises zero added sugar, components or preservatives.
By way of sustainability credentials, the founders clarify crickets produce 80 instances much less methane than cattle and their manufacturing requires minimal land, water and feed.
The women have concentrated their advertising efforts on in-store and in-gym tastings, permitting them to elucidate the well being advantages and dispel flavour considerations.
“Most individuals are actually open to attempting edible bugs. Not many have come throughout them earlier than however they’re actually open to attempting new issues and they’re actually pleasantly stunned by the style,” says Perez Fernandez.
Petricevic provides: “Vegans and vegetarians alike appear to be equally eager to do this various as they share the identical ethos round environmental sustainability.”
