Building Brands and Breaking Barriers: The Journey of Nadine Benchaffai
In this episode, Nadine Benchaffai shares her journey from FMCG to founding Tortilla and Taqado, discussing challenges, brand building, and her current role in agri-tech and food tech.
Nadine Benchaffai
Partner & Co-Founder, Fab Food Co.
Nadine Benchaffai is a seasoned entrepreneur with a diverse background in FMCG, having worked with Kraft and Nestlé. She co-founded Tortilla Mexican Grills in the UK, expanding it to over 60 stores, and later founded Taqado Mexican Kitchen in the UAE. Currently, Nadine is a venture builder in the agri-tech and food tech sectors, focusing on innovation and sustainable growth.
In this episode of Restocast, host Ashish Tulsian sits down with Nadine Benchaffai, a trailblazing entrepreneur with a rich background in the food and beverage industry. Nadine shares her journey from working in FMCG with global giants like Kraft and Nestlé to co-founding Tortilla Mexican Grills in the UK, which grew to over 60 stores. She also delves into her experience founding Taqado Mexican Kitchen in the UAE, discussing the challenges of introducing a niche cuisine in a competitive market.
Nadine opens up about the personal and business factors that led to her decision to sell Taqado to Kitopi in 2021, reflecting on the bittersweet nature of exiting a brand she built from the ground up. She also talks about her current role as a venture builder in the agri-tech and food tech sectors, highlighting how she’s helping startups scale and innovate at the intersection of food, technology, and sustainability. This episode offers valuable insights into brand building, market adaptation, and the evolving landscape of the food industry, making it a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs and industry professionals alike.