Sustainable Food News
February 13, 2007

Ex-Ethnic Gourmet chief back with all natural papadums
Jaggi’s new company brings flavor of India to retail shelves

Paul Jaggi is taking his knowledge of international foods and flavors back to the marketplace.

The founder and former chief executive officer of Ethnic Gourmet Foods, now owned by organic food giant Hain Celestial, has launched his new company’s first product with the introduction of Indian-style papadums, a crispy snack product sold under the Baji’s brand.

All natural and vegetarian, Passion Foods’ new Baji’s papadums come in four flavors: Tangy Cilantro, Traditional Tandoori, Mango Chutney and Creamy Yogurt & Dill.

The chips are made with fava bean flour but no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, and contain no trans fat or cholesterol, and all but Mango Chutney are wheat- and gluten-free, according to the company. The chips are said to contain 50 percent less fat than
traditional potato chips.

”With Baji’s, we are bringing unique world flavors to convenient products with which people are already familiar,” said Jaggi, founder and president of Passion Foods.

Baji’s papadums are currently sold nationwide in Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats Markets.

Passion Foods donates a portion of sales to charities that focus on the education and nutrition of underprivileged children in Third World countries.

In addition to owning and running Passion Foods, Inc., Jaggi currently serves on the boards of Rustic Crust, a New Hampshire-based baker of Old World pizza crusts, and Putney Pasta, a producer of all-natural filled pasta.

After building Ethnic Gourmet Foods into the second largest natural frozen foods company in the convenience foods category, Jaggi sold the company to Heinz Frozen Foods in 2001. Jaggi stayed on as chief executive for three years until Hain Celestial bought the company.

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