In 2009,[12] Adnan Durrani founded American Halal Company in Stamford, Connecticut.[6] The American Halal company sells halal certified food products under the brand Saffron Road Foods.[8] The name "Saffron Road" was inspired by Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road project.[13] In July 2010, Saffron Road was launched through Whole Foods.[14] Its products are halal certified, antibiotic free, gluten free, and non-gmo project verified.[15] Some products, like their simmer sauces, are also vegan. Ingredients come from family owned, sustainable farms.[16] In August 2015, American Halal acquired Mediterranean Snack Foods, a lentil snack food manufacturer, which was added to the Saffron Road line.[17]
By 2014, Saffron Road produced fifty different products.[18] Product lines include frozen entrees, appetizers and desserts, chicken nuggets and tenders, skillet sauces and broths,[16][19] and snacks such as Crunchy Chickpeas, BeanStalks[20] and ChickBean Crisps.[21] Before Saffron Road, CEO Adnan Durrani was a principal equity partner and director at Stonyfield Farm (now Groupe Danone) and founder of Vermont Pure Spring water.[2]
Recognition
Saffron Road was ranked number 642 on the Inc. 5000 list in 2015, number 703 in 2016, and 4800 in 2019.[22] It ranked third in natural frozen food sales in the United States by 2014.[23]