A frozen food company officially opens operations in Taylor this week.
Afia Foods, a Mediterranean food company that specializes in falafel, kibbeh and microwavable vegan meals, debuts its new 20,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in the city with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday, Sept. 15.
Afia currently employs around 15 full-time employees working out of its new facility producing meals for retail and foodservice. As Afia moves to Taylor, its goal is to become the go-to Mediterranean and Middle Eastern brand for the country.
“What better would it be to have a brand that’s headquartered in Taylor that’s known all over the country,” said Farrah Moussallati Sibai, co-founder and majority owner of Afia Foods. “That’s the goal and we’re excited about moving to Taylor. They’ve already been great.”
Afia was founded by Moussallati Sibai and her husband, Yassin Sibai.
The couple missed the dishes they knew from their old home in Syria.
The pair began the company in an Austin farmer’s market in 2017, using a book of family recipes. They wanted to bring healthy, authentic Mediterranean to an American audience.
Moussallati Sibai said her mother-in-law, who is the original owner of the book of family recipes, frequently checks the products to ensure that they meet the recipe’s standard. The mindset of authenticity and consistency remains as the company grows.
“She’ll make sure that everything coming out of the machine is up to par,” Moussallati Sibai said. “It seems a bit challenging when you run your manufacturing, but the advantage of being in control is knowing every single ingredient that is going into your product.”
Afia now offers six different products at more than 3,000 locations nationwide and online, according to a company press release. The company’s products are available at notable retail chains, such as H-E-B and Whole Foods. The young company was able to grow rapidly after receiving financing from investors who were sold on the company’s potential, Sibai said.
“The growth opportunities for Afia and the current performance of the company’s growth had been overwhelmingly good,” Sibai said. “So, we were able to attract investors, even in this very ugly climate of liquidity in the market.”
Afia means “to your health” in Arabic, something that shapes the company’s outlook on giving back to the community.
Beyond regular donations to local food banks, Afia is committed to supporting their local community of refugees through employment and mentoring.
“As we grow, we will continue to support our communities, support the people that need donations and continue to hire and support refugees,” Moussallati Sibai said. “In general, refugees are really hard workers. They just need to be given a chance.”
Afia is moving out from its smaller, 5,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Jarrell.
