What Passage Foods does

Passage Foods is a privately held Australian consumer packaged goods manufacturer of international cooking sauces and ready-to-eat meals, founded in 2004 when chef Chris Doutre partnered with contract manufacturer Flavour Makers. The company sells authentic Asian and Indian cuisine products under two core sub-brands — Passage to India (Indian simmer sauces and curry bowls) and Passage to Asia (Asian stir-fry sauces, simmer sauces, and noodle/curry bowls) — plus a further brand, Street Kitchen. Its portfolio spans simmer sauces (Butter Chicken, Korma, Tikka Masala, Coconut & Cashew, Red/Yellow Thai Curry), stir-fry sauces (Teriyaki, Pad Thai, Hoisin & Garlic, Korean BBQ, Thai Basil & Sweet Chilli), and microwavable ready-to-eat bowls (Veg Curry Bowls and Noodle Bowls). Recipes are developed with specialty chefs from origin regions, ingredients are globally sourced, and products are formulated without artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives, with many gluten-free.

The company serves time-poor home cooks, health-conscious consumers, and families seeking authentic ethnic meals with minimal preparation — 20 minutes using simmer/stir-fry sauces or 60–90 seconds for ready-to-heat bowls. Notable product technology includes Sustainabowl compostable packaging made from bagasse (a sugarcane by-product). Passage Foods operates from an Australian headquarters in Braeside, Victoria, a US regional headquarters in Columbia, Tennessee, and a Canadian operation managed via distributor Gourmet Trading in Mississauga, Ontario, with the founder's recipes reportedly sold in over 40 countries.

Revenue is generated through consumer packaged goods sales via a hybrid go-to-market model: retail distribution through major grocery chains (Walmart, Kroger, Publix, Albertsons, HEB in the US; Walmart Canada) alongside company-owned direct-to-consumer e-commerce (shop.passagefoods.com in the US, AusPantry in Australia). Pricing is per-unit and pay-as-you-go, with simmer sauces at roughly $6.00, ready-to-heat curry bowls at $5.00, and a premium Sri Lankan Coconut & Cashew Chicken sauce at $8.00 in the US market. Founder Chris Doutre passed away in September 2021, and the company continues to operate independently with no disclosed parent company or institutional investors.

Name

Passage Foods

Legal name

Passage Foods Pty Ltd

Website

https://passagefoods.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Passage Foods is an Australian manufacturer of authentic Asian and Indian cooking sauces and ready-to-eat curry and noodle bowls, sold under the Passage to India, Passage to Asia, and Street Kitchen brands to retail grocery chains and consumers across Australia, North America, and beyond.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ethnic Cooking Sauces & Ready Meals

NAICS

Food and Beverage Retailers (445)

SIC

Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Premium Gourmet & Chef-Curated Meal Kits/Prepared Meals (CRAHAJAK)

Keywords

• Ethnic cooking sauces
• Asian stir-fry sauces
• Indian simmer sauces
• Ready-to-eat meals
• Convenient ethnic cuisine

Headquarters

HQ city

Braeside

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Consumer Packaged Goods Sales: Passage Foods generates revenue through the sale of prepared food products including simmer sauces, stir-fry sauces, and ready-to-heat curry bowls. Products are sold through retail grocery stores and e-commerce channels. The company sells directly to consumers via online shop and through retail distribution partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Passage Foods manufactures and sells authentic Asian and Indian cooking sauces (simmer sauces and stir-fry sauces) and ready-to-eat microwavable meals (90-second curry bowls and 60-second noodle bowls) under the Passage to India, Passage to Asia, and Street Kitchen sub-brands. Products are sold through major grocery retailers including Walmart, Kroger, Publix, Albertsons, and HEB in the US, Walmart Canada, and via owned e-commerce channels in the US and Australia. The portfolio is formulated without artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives and most SKUs are gluten-free.

Product overview

Passage Foods is a food products company offering authentic cooking sauces and ready-to-eat meals across two main sub-brands: Passage to India (Indian simmer sauces and curry bowls) and Passage to Asia (Asian stir-fry sauces, simmer sauces, and noodle/curry bowls). The product portfolio consists of simmer sauces (Butter Chicken, Extra Mild Butter Chicken, Korma, Tikka Masala, Coconut & Cashew Curry, Red Thai Curry, Yellow Thai Curry), stir-fry sauces (Teriyaki Chicken, Thai Basil & Sweet Chilli, Hoisin and Garlic, Pad Thai, Korean BBQ, Satay Chicken), and ready-to-eat microwavable meals (Veg Curry Bowls in Butter Masala, Thai Red, Thai Yellow, Thai Green, Japanese Curry, Cashew Korma, Malaysian Satay flavors; Noodle Bowls in Teriyaki, Soy & Ginger, Roasted Peanut flavors). Products are developed by specialty chefs, contain no artificial colors or flavors, and most are gluten-free. Meals can be prepared in 20 minutes using simmer/stir-fry sauces, or in 60-90 seconds for ready-to-eat bowls. Distribution spans retail stores (Walmart, Kroger, Publix, Albertsons, HEB in US; Walmart Canada) and online channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Passage to India: Authentic Indian dish sauces created by founder Chris Doutre to bring classic Indian dishes into homes.
• Passage to Asia
• Street Kitchen

Products and services

• Passage to India (Sub-brand) Indian cuisine sub-brand offering authentic Indian simmer sauces and veg curry bowls (Butter Chicken, Korma, Tikka Masala, Coconut & Cashew Curry, Butter Masala Veg Curry Bowl, Cashew Korma Veg Curry Bowl) targeted at home cooks seeking authentic Indian flavors with quick preparation.
• Passage to Asia (Sub-brand) Asian cuisine sub-brand offering stir-fry sauces, simmer sauces, and ready-to-eat noodle bowls and veg curry bowls (Teriyaki Chicken, Thai Basil & Sweet Chilli, Pad Thai, Hoisin & Garlic, Korean BBQ, Red/Yellow Thai Curry, Roasted Peanut, Soy & Ginger, Teriyaki Noodle Bowls, Thai Red/Yellow/Green Veg Curry Bowls) for home cooks seeking authentic Asian flavors with quick preparation.
• Street Kitchen (Sub-brand) Sub-brand focused on capturing authentic flavors from market places and streets around the world, featuring scratch kits for home cooks seeking international street food experiences.
• Butter Chicken Simmer Sauce Rich, creamy blend of aromatic mild spices in a fusion of tomato, cream, and yoghurt, ready in 20 minutes; for home cooks preparing authentic Butter Chicken with chicken or vegetables. Contains milk.
• Korma Simmer Sauce Mild-flavored sauce with piquant spices thickened with cashew, coconut and yoghurt; gluten-free, ready in 20 minutes for home cooks preparing Korma with meat or vegetables. Contains cashew, milk, and coconut.
• Tikka Masala Simmer Sauce Classic creation from the northwest frontier of India with a rich blend of tomato, onion, and yoghurt; mild to medium spice, gluten-free, ready in 20 minutes for home cooks preparing Tikka Masala.
• Extra Mild Butter Chicken Simmer Sauce Legendary Butter Chicken with a mellowed spice blend for extra mild taste and a silky tomato base; ready in 20 minutes, targeted at families and consumers seeking a milder Butter Chicken option.
• Coconut & Cashew Chicken Simmer Sauce Sumptuous and mild Sri Lankan-inspired simmer sauce enhanced by coconut, cashew, and traditional spices; gluten-free, ready in 20 minutes for home cooks. Contains milk and tree nuts.
• Red Thai Curry Simmer Sauce Classic Thai curry with chili and spices; rich, spicy but not too hot, ready in 20 minutes for home cooks preparing Red Thai Curry with meat, seafood or vegetables. Contains coconut and anchovy.
• Yellow Thai Curry Simmer Sauce Mild Thai classic simmer sauce ready in 20 minutes for home cooks; just add meat or seafood and vegetables. Contains anchovy.
• Teriyaki Chicken Stir-Fry Sauce Classic Japanese sauce with a sweet, versatile flavour usable in stir-fry or as a basting sauce for home cooks preparing Teriyaki Chicken; ready in 20 minutes. Contains soy.
• Thai Basil & Sweet Chilli Stir-Fry Sauce Aromatic basil enriched with herbs and spices reflecting Thai culinary traditions; gluten-free, ready in 20 minutes for home cooks preparing Thai-style stir-fry. Contains anchovy.
• Hoisin and Garlic Stir-Fry Sauce Sweet and tangy Chinese classic stir-fry sauce for use with chicken, beef skewers, or barbecue; targets home cooks preparing Cantonese-style meals. Contains soy and sesame.
• Pad Thai Stir-Fry Sauce National dish of Thailand stir-fry sauce for use with rice noodles, bean sprouts, chicken, shrimp, or tofu; ready in 20 minutes for home cooks preparing Pad Thai. Contains soy and anchovy.
• Korean BBQ Stir-Fry Sauce Traditional Korean barbecue stir-fry sauce with sweet and smoky flavors for use with beef, pork or chicken; gluten-free, ready in 20 minutes for home cooks preparing Korean BBQ meals.
• Butter Masala Veg Curry Bowl Ready-to-eat microwavable veg curry bowl delivering the flavor of traditional Butter Chicken without chicken, with added veggies and fried onions; ready in 90 seconds, priced at $5.00 in the US, targeted at consumers seeking a quick vegetarian Butter Chicken-style meal. Contains tree nuts (cashew) and coconut.
• Thai Red Veg Curry Bowl Ready-to-eat microwavable Thai red veg curry bowl with rich and spicy flavor topped with jasmine rice; ready in 90 seconds, targeted at consumers seeking a quick vegetarian Thai meal. Contains crustacea.
• Thai Yellow Veg Curry Bowl Ready-to-eat microwavable 90-second light and mild yellow Thai curry bowl, rich and creamy with jasmine rice; targeted at consumers seeking a quick, mild vegetarian Thai meal. Contains tree nuts (coconut).
• Thai Green Veg Curry Bowl Ready-to-eat microwavable authentic yet mild Thai classic green curry with coriander and lemongrass, topped with jasmine rice; targeted at consumers seeking a quick vegetarian Thai meal. Contains fish.
• Japanese Veg Curry Bowl Ready-to-eat microwavable authentic Japanese curry with jasmine rice; targeted at consumers seeking a quick vegetarian Japanese curry meal. Contains soy, sesame, and mustard.
• Cashew Korma Veg Curry Bowl Ready-to-eat microwavable creamy authentic cashew korma curry bowl with peas and carrots; ready in 90 seconds, targeted at consumers seeking a quick vegetarian Indian meal. Contains cashews.
• Malaysian Satay Veg Curry Bowl Ready-to-eat microwavable Malaysian Satay Curry bowl with jasmine rice; ready in 90 seconds, packaged in compostable Sustainabowl packaging, targeted at consumers seeking a quick vegetarian satay-style meal. Contains peanut.
• Roasted Peanut Noodle Bowl Ready-to-eat microwavable noodle bowl ready in 60 seconds with authentic peanut flavor, noodles and vegetables; targeted at consumers seeking a quick Asian-style noodle meal. Contains wheat, soy, sesame, peanut.
• Soy & Ginger Noodle Bowl Ready-to-eat microwavable noodle bowl ready in 60 seconds with flavorsome yet mild soy and ginger sauce; targeted at consumers seeking a quick Asian-style noodle meal. Contains wheat, soy, sesame.
• Teriyaki Noodle Bowl Ready-to-eat microwavable teriyaki noodle bowl ready in 60 seconds; targeted at consumers seeking a quick Japanese-style noodle meal. Contains wheat, soy, sesame.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products enjoyed in over 40 countries worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Flavour MakerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004In 2004, Passage Foods founder Chris Doutre formed a partnership with Flavour Makers, a young and successful food manufacturing business. This partnership was instrumental in creating Passage Foods and bringing Chris's authentic recipes to a wider market. Flavour Makers provided manufacturing capabilities while Chris provided the culinary expertise and recipes.
• 1% For The PlanetminorOthersPassage Foods is a member of 1% For The Planet and donates 1% of sales to programs around the world focused on reducing the impact of plastic pollution on the environment. This membership supports the company's sustainability commitments and sustainable packaging initiatives.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Thai Kitchen: Thai and broader Asian cooking sauces and meal foundations sold through US mass grocery; directly comparable product category, channel mix, and price points to Passage to Asia.
• Patak's: Leading Indian cooking sauce and meal kit brand sold across UK, US, Canada and Australia; the closest direct peer to Passage to India on product, authenticity positioning, and retail distribution.
• Tasty Bite: Indian and South Asian ready-to-eat microwavable entrées (curry bowls, rice bowls) sold in US mainstream grocery; highly comparable to Passage Foods' 90-second curry bowl line in format, channel, and target shopper.
• Saffron Road: US-based frozen and shelf-stable prepared meals spanning Indian, Asian, and Middle Eastern cuisines; comparable product format (heat-and-eat ethnic meals), retail channel, and clean-label positioning.

Emerging players

• Maya Kaimal: Premium Indian simmer sauces and frozen entrées focused on natural ingredients and clean labels; comparable in authenticity-led, premium positioning to Passage to India but at smaller scale.
• Primal Kitchen: Premium sauces, marinades, and dressings positioned on clean-label and ingredient-quality messaging; comparable to Passage Foods on clean-label positioning but operates in a different daypart and condiment category.

Broad incumbents

• Blue Dragon: Established UK brand offering a broad range of Asian cooking sauces, stir-fries, and noodles; overlaps with Passage to Asia on product and channel but is a larger portfolio play rather than a niche specialist.
• Kikkoman: Global incumbent in Asian sauces (soy, teriyaki, stir-fry) sold across US, Canada, and Australia grocery; relevant comparable for Passage to Asia stir-fry SKUs in channel and shopper, but at much larger scale.
• McCormick: Largest global spice and flavour company, owner of Thai Kitchen and other ethnic sauce brands; competes with Passage Foods across US grocery on shelf and through private-label pressure in ethnic categories.

Others

• Trader Joe's: US retailer with extensive private-label Indian and Asian cooking sauces and prepared meals that compete directly with Passage Foods on shelf and on price, representing the most relevant private-label competitive set.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PassageFoods
• Instagraminstagram.com/passagefoods.usa
• Xx.com/passagefoods

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Passage Foods