Wakao

What Wakao does

Wakao Foods, legally Dhond Green Ventures Private Limited, is an Indian plant-based food manufacturer founded in October 2020 in Panjim, Goa, by former criminal lawyer Sairaj Dhond. The company is positioned as India's first dedicated jackfruit food brand, producing a narrow portfolio of shelf-stable, ready-to-cook jackfruit products — primarily Raw Jack (tender pulled jackfruit in 4 x 300g vacuum-sealed pouches) and two sausage variants (American Herbs and Hot & Spicy). Core processing technology centres on tenderising jackfruit to mimic shredded meat texture, combined with vacuum packing that delivers a one-year ambient shelf life without refrigeration or preservatives, eliminating cold-chain logistics for downstream partners.

The business operates a dual go-to-market model. On the consumer side, Wakao sells directly through a Shopify-powered e-commerce site shipping pan-India with free delivery above ₹499. On the business side, the company wholesales to the HoReCa channel — hotels, restaurants, cafes, cloud kitchens, and caterers — with named partners including Taj Hotels, Grand Hyatt, Radisson Blu, Alila, Burma Burma, Burger Factory, Charcoal Eats, and Monkey Box. Distribution extends across 22+ Indian cities and every Indian pin code by 2024, with international exports to the Netherlands, Dubai, Norway, Singapore, Canada, and the USA. More recently, Wakao has added adjacent revenue streams: a franchise/regional partnership programme offering exclusive territory rights, the WakaoKhao cloud kitchen launched in July 2025, and a flagship dine-in restaurant in Miramar, Panaji, opened October 2025.

Revenue mechanics span unit-priced DTC e-commerce (sausages at ~₹630/pack, Raw Jack at ~₹840/pack), B2B wholesale (pricing on application), export sales, and dine-in transactions at the flagship outlet. Consumer pricing is mid-market, and the company markets on health and sustainability positioning — gluten-free, 100% plant-based, no preservatives, low glycemic index, with a 1% donation per sale to farming communities via the Friends of Farmers initiative. The company was featured on Shark Tank India Season 1 in January 2022 and bootstrapped operations remain founder-owned with no disclosed institutional funding.

Name

Wakao

Legal name

Dhond Green Ventures Private Limited

Website

https://wakaofoods.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wakao Foods is India's first jackfruit food brand, manufacturing shelf-stable, plant-based jackfruit products such as sausages and raw pulled jack for direct-to-consumer sales and HoReCa partners across India and six international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plant-Based Alternative Protein Foods

NAICS

Meat and Meat Product Merchant Wholesalers (424470)

SIC

Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Shelf-Stable/Retort Prepared Meat & Seafood Meals (AFANAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Canned Meat, Poultry & Seafood Manufacturing (AFAKACAD)

Keywords

• Plant-based food products
• Jackfruit meat alternatives
• Ready-to-cook meals
• HoReCa wholesale supply
• Shelf-stable packaged food

Headquarters

HQ city

Panjim

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Online sales through their Shopify-powered website selling packaged jackfruit products (sausages, raw jack) directly to consumers across India. Products are shipped pan-India with 3-5 day delivery times.
2. B2B HoReCa Bulk Sales: Wholesale supply of jackfruit products to restaurants, hotels, cafes, cloud kitchens, and catering companies across India. Competitive wholesale pricing with direct kitchen delivery, no cold storage required.
3. Flagship Outlet (WakaoKhao): Dine-in experience at their flagship outlet in Goa where consumers can experience jackfruit dishes. Operating hours 11 AM to 11 PM, seven days a week.
4. Export Sales: International sales to countries including the Netherlands, Dubai, Norway, Singapore, Canada, and the USA.
5. Franchise/Regional Partnerships: Exclusive city or region rights offered to franchise partners and food entrepreneurs who want to represent Wakao in their region, including training and onboarding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Wakao Foods manufactures and sells a portfolio of 100% plant-based, ready-to-cook jackfruit products including Raw Jack (tender pulled jackfruit), American Herbs Sausage, and Hot & Spicy Sausage. All products are shelf-stable for up to one year without refrigeration, gluten-free, and contain no preservatives. The company supplies consumers via its own e-commerce store, supplies restaurants and hotels via a B2B HoReCa wholesale channel, and operates the WakaoKhao flagship dine-in restaurant in Goa.

Product overview

Wakao Foods is India's first jackfruit food brand offering a portfolio of plant-based, ready-to-cook jackfruit products. The core product line includes Raw Jack (tender pulled jackfruit for versatile cooking), American Herbs Sausage, and Hot & Spicy Sausage — all shelf-stable for up to 1 year without refrigeration. The company also operates WakaoKhao, a flagship dine-in restaurant experience in Goa. Products are 100% plant-based, gluten-free, and contain no preservatives or artificial ingredients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WakaoKhao: Cloud kitchen and flagship restaurant outlet concept offering jackfruit-based meals and food products

Products and services

• Raw Jack Tender pulled jackfruit sold in packs of four 300g vacuum-sealed pouches; ready-to-cook in under five minutes and designed to mimic shredded meat texture, absorbing spices for curries, biryanis, sandwiches, and other dishes. Targeted at health-conscious consumers, vegetarians, vegans, and HoReCa kitchens.
• American Herbs Sausage Herb-infused jackfruit sausage pack of 5 sausages (200g net), 100% vegan and gluten-free, shelf-stable for one year without refrigeration, with savory herb flavor suitable for grilling, pan-frying, or adding to dishes.
• Hot & Spicy Sausage Bold and fiery jackfruit sausage pack of 5 sausages, 100% vegan, with a soft yet firm texture designed for grilling, pan-frying, or adding to spicy curries.
• WakaoKhao Flagship Outlet Dine-in restaurant experience where jackfruit takes center stage on every plate, offering consumers a hands-on brand and product experience at the Panaji, Goa flagship.
• Wakao Franchise / Regional Partnership Program Exclusive city or region rights for food entrepreneurs and operators to represent Wakao, including training and onboarding. Targets Indian food entrepreneurs and regional operators seeking a Shark Tank-backed brand to distribute and operate.

Quantifiable outcome

• Shelf life of 1 year without refrigeration
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, notable and infrastructure.

• Alila HotelscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlila Hotels, a luxury hotel chain, uses Wakao jackfruit products in their menus, featuring plant-based options for their guests.
• Grand HyattcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGrand Hyatt hotel chain incorporates Wakao products into their culinary offerings, providing guests with plant-based meat alternatives.
• Taj Hotels (including The Taj Mahal Palace)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTaj Hotels, India's premier hospitality brand, serves Wakao jackfruit products at their properties including the iconic Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai.
• Radisson BlucoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRadisson Blu hotel chain partners with Wakao to offer jackfruit-based dishes in their restaurants across India.
• Burger FactorynotableChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBurger Factory restaurant uses Wakao jackfruit products in their burger preparations, offering plant-based alternatives.
• Burma BurmanotableChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRestaurant chain Burma Burma features Wakao jackfruit products, showcasing versatility of plant-based meat in their cuisine.
• Charcoal EatsnotableChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCharcoal Eats restaurant utilizes Wakao products for their plant-based menu offerings.
• Monkey BoxnotableChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMonkey Box restaurant features Wakao jackfruit products in their menu, offering creative plant-based options.
• ShopifyinfrastructureTechnology or IntegrationWakao's e-commerce platform is powered by Shopify, which provides the online e-commerce infrastructure enabling direct-to-consumer sales.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GoodDot: India-based plant-based meat brand (mutton, chicken, keema alternatives) selling through D2C, HoReCa, and retail. Most direct Indian competitor to Wakao with similar product positioning and B2B HoReCa strategy.
• Imagine Meats: India-based plant-based meat brand (sausages, burgers, keema) co-founded by Bollywood celebrities. Targets identical consumer and HoReCa segments as Wakao with broader retail distribution.
• Upton's Naturals: US-based plant-based brand featuring jackfruit products alongside seitan alternatives. Comparable in using jackfruit as a meat substitute platform with similar ready-to-cook format.
• Blue Tribe Foods: India-based plant-based meat brand producing chicken and mutton alternatives using soy and pea protein. Competes directly in the same D2C and HoReCa channels Wakao targets.
• The Jackfruit Company: US-based brand producing jackfruit-based meat alternatives (pulled jackfruit, BBQ, taco filling). Closest global peer to Wakao by raw material and product format.

Broad incumbents

• Impossible Foods: Global plant-based meat incumbent with broad restaurant and retail presence. Increasingly active in Asian markets and competes for premium hospitality HoReCa placements that Wakao targets.
• Beyond Meat: Global plant-based meat leader producing burgers, sausages, and ground alternatives from pea protein. Competes for the same flexitarian consumer and HoReCa customer in India's emerging plant-based category.

Emerging players

• Vezlay Foods: Indian plant-based meat brand offering soy-based ready-to-eat alternatives including shami kebabs and seekh kebabs. Overlaps with Wakao on the Indian HoReCa and D2C plant-based meat opportunity.
• PlantMade: Emerging Indian plant-based brand offering dairy alternatives and meat substitutes. Comparable as a smaller Indian D2C player in the broader plant-based category.
• Ahimsa Food: India-based plant-based protein brand offering soy and wheat-based meat alternatives. Competes for the same Indian vegetarian/flexitarian consumer base with similar retail and food-service ambitions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wakaofoods

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wakao