‘Magic’ Side Hustle van Walmart employee exceeds $ 1 million | Entrepreneur

This side printed Spotlight Q&A contains the 35-year-old entrepreneur Mehek Khera, which was established in New York City. Khera is the founder and CEO of Niralamaya -VoedersmiddersA snack brand “rooted in well -being and inspired by Indian Heritage.”

At the age of 24, Khera left New Delhi, India and emigrated to the US, where she landed a job at Walmart. Subsequently, Burn-Out and Health problems motivated her to start a hustle and bustle of health care.

For the first time in 2025, Niramaya obtains $ 1 million in income. Learn how Khera Niramaya transformed into the successful company behind Naan Pretzels and Dips, here. Reactions are processed for length and clarity.

^{Image Credit: Niramaya Foods. Mehek Khera.}

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What was your daily job or primary occupation when you started by your side?
I worked in the retail trade at Walmart E -commerce and managed the category and supply chain for beauty and clothing. It was fast, high pressure and fulfilling in many ways over time, the long hours, lack of real food and stress started to take a toll on my body and mind.

Related: the side of this 26-year-old became a full-time company, led to $ 100,000 in 2.5 months and is on schedule for $ 2.5 million in 2025

When did you start by your side, and where did you find the inspiration for it?
Niramaya started to form in 2020, during a season of Burn -Out and Health Struggle. I was dealing with chronic, non -diagnosed car -immune conditions and could not find any answers. I left my work and turned to the food school – and with that I rediscovered the healing power of the food I grew up: lively dals, functional herbs, sabzis made from fresh vegetables. I realized that those recipes, passed on by generations, were in themselves medicines, and yet I could not find them on a shelf in a way that felt clean, handy or modern. That gap between culture and convenience, tradition and today became the basis for Niramaya.

What were some of the first steps you took to get your side off the ground? How much money/investment does it need to launch?
I started in my kitchen, played with recipes, took feedback seriously and tested early versions on local markets. I knew that I could not do this casually, so I saved around $ 50,000 for two years to offer the minimum order quantities for our first co-manufacturer. I tirelessly investigated, made hundreds of phone calls and finally found a partner who matches our mission. We have developed early packaging, launched a small website and put real products in the hands of people. Then the magic started.

Related: The bustle of this 29-year-old brought people ‘to the dark green side’. It earned $ 10,000 within 2 days and sees 6 digits per month.

^{Image Credit: Courtiness of Niramaya Foods}

Are there free or paid sources that were especially useful?
Founder networks such as Startup CPG, of course Network and SKU Accelerator made a world of difference. Slack groups for CPG founders were fast, brutally honest and incredibly supportive. On the Tools side: Idea for following everything, Canva for Design, Quickbooks for Finance. But by far the most valuable source? Talking face-to-face with consumers during Demos. No software can replace that.

If you could go back and change one process or approach, what would that be?
I would not change the path – every challenge taught me something that I needed. But I would prepare better for the pure resource discharge. Budget twice the money and give yourself twice. Everything takes longer and costs more than you think – and that is not a mistake: it is just the nature of the game.

Related: they started a side that produced an ‘obvious’ food item. It quickly achieved $ 300,000 monthly sales – on the right track for more than $ 20 million in 2025.

What is something on this side that has become Hustle that you have surprised or challenged the most?
How capital -intensive retail is real. Coming in the shelves is only the beginning of the real work of driving speed, the training of the shopper and the top-of-mind. Another challenge was to reduce people about Indian eating. So much assume that it is just “heavy curry”. But our kitchen is so much more: lively, clean, intestinal-friendly, plant-forward. Translating that truth through packaging, product and language has been both a challenge and a privilege.

Can you remember a specific moment when something went wrong – how did you deal with it?
With one of our early retail partners, our dips were priced too high and placed on the top shelf – almost invisible to the consumer. Instead of panicking, I contacted the buyer with sales data and insights in psychology and offered to support with demos and social messages when they consider visiting the price and placement again. They agreed. That moment reminded me that being proactive, respectful and solution -oriented is going a long way in the retail trade.

^{Image Credit: Courtiness of Niramaya Foods}

How long did it take to see consistent income?
We started to see a steady traction around nine months. We started with smaller independents, a few regional stores and many personal events. They were grassroots, but it taught me how I could listen, adjust and be scaled up in a responsible way.

What do growth and income look like today?
Nowadays, Niramaya is available in more than 1,200 shop doors throughout the country, including Brussels sprouts, Albertsons and a strong basis of the independent of New York City. This will be our first year in seven digits. We are launching new SKUs and double retailers who believe in what we build.

What do you like best about running this company?
The deep creative satisfaction of building something that feels true and seeing it to touch people. If someone says: “I have never tasted anything so clean and bold,” I know we do something meaningful. We not only sell food: we shift the perception of Indian flavors and bring more people into the fold.

Related: tired of ‘cultural blunt’ products, this 27-year-old took his side from $ 1,000 a month to 7-number income: ‘Choose the right opportunity to pursue’

What is your best piece specific, usable business advice?
Before you feel “ready”. But don’t build in a bubble. Get constant feedback, especially from your customers. Stay lean. Build trust with your partners. Don’t be afraid to ask stupid questions. And don’t forget – relationships will bear you further than any marketing campaign. Be generous, be honest and follow.

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