EQUII

Bread and baked goods are everyone’s favorite staple, but do we count on them as a healthy choice?

In the modern culinary landscape, where consumers expect nutritional value in every bite, healthy bakery products are growing in demand. Consumers want less of carbs and empty calories, and more of the good stuff from their breads, such as protein and fiber. This has mushroomed an entire category of low-carb or keto products. These keto products, unfortunately, lack balanced nutrition.

EQUII is breaking the barrier in nutrition and taste by creating health-forward staple foods, starting with bread and other bakery products. A food technology company, EQUII has developed a line of signature protein-rich breads, powered by their innovative and versatile high protein baking blends.

Using its baking blend, the San Francisco bay area based-company has launched a line of soft, flavorful sliced breads with an exceptional 8 to 10g of protein in 1 slice, along with remarkable taste, texture and mouthfeel. Each slice of EQUII bread delivers complete protein with as much as 18 percent daily value of protein per serving, and all nine essential amino acids to support muscle building and maintaining healthy body weight.

Competing with typical servings of animal-based protein products, a slice of EQUII bread can provide protein equivalent to a cup of milk, two eggs, or half a chicken breast.

“Our protein flours have revolutionized the staple food category, creating our bread products not only delicious but also highly nutritious options for your daily breakfasts, snacks, and meals,” says Baljit Ghotra, co-founder and co-CEO of EQUII.

EQUII products have captured consumer interest and earned approval from prominent, multi-billion-dollar bread manufacturing companies.

Unlocking the Power of Plant Proteins

EQUII is the brainchild of accomplished food scientists Monica Bhatia and Baljit Ghotra, and world-class chef Sebastien Canonne, making an impact with a shared mission of bringing nutrition to the forefront of the baking industry. Their passion for creating a healthier, delicious and sustainable food system positions EQUII as the sustainable nutrition solution.

In traditional meals and snacks, complete proteins are often added through animal-based proteins like milk, meat and eggs. Driven by the quest to potentially replace them with plant-based proteins, EQUII’s veterans of culinary science created a specific approach to developing complete proteins using fermentation that can satisfy the dual demands from consumers for products with health appeal and plant-based origins.

By leveraging modern science and combining it with age-old fermentation methods and culinary art, EQUII has discovered specific strains of yeast, often found in foods, to produce complete protein flours using fermentation. Their first product is protein extracted from the specific strains of baker’s yeast, with a flavor and texture profile that matches bakery applications like bread and when added to an incomplete protein source like wheat flour, yields a complete protein grain flour suitable for breadmaking and many other bakery applications.

EQUII rebalances the macronutrients, including protein, carbohydrates and dietary fibers in a way that adds nutrient density to support growth and maintenance of body and immune functions. Whether in the mixing, proofing, shaping or baking stages, integrating its baking blend into existing manufacturing processes does not change the bread texture or the process time to create bread at large scale using methods like quick-time baking.

In 2023, EQUII launched its first direct to consumer product, sliced bread, on its website and Amazon.com. EQUII bread is available in two varieties: original PROTEIN bread and Protein + FIBER Bread, and both of them offer two flavors: classic wheat and multi-grain. The original breads provide 10 grams of complete protein per slice, whereas newly launched protein +fiber breads deliver eight grams of protein per slice along with upto 4g of dietary fiber per slice.

While all EQUII formulations are naturally lower in carbohydrates, the +FIBER varieties can achieve as much as 50 percent reduction in carbohydrates and 70 percent lower sugar compared to regular healthy bread. Many consumers have endorsed EQUII protein breads in their reviews for increased satiety, linking eating protein breads with staying full longer. These favorable reviews align with studies from various sources linking higher protein and dietary fiber enriched meals to increased satiety and energy balance. Eating healthy foods and an active lifestyle are reportedly linked to maintaining healthy body weight, to manage health conditions associated with Pre-diabetes and to prevent occurrence of chronic diseases like, diabetes type-II, heart diseases and stroke.

Pioneering Sustainable Breads

Currently, the EQUII product line includes sliced bread, buns, dinner rolls, sourdough variations, artisanal pastries and specialized sandwich buns, offering an unparalleled sensory experience in every bite.

From a nutritional standpoint, EQUII products offer a paradigm shift on the plate by bringing complete protein in a sustainable manner, without meat. EQUII bread mixes are crafted using non-GMO, plant-based ingredients. Acknowledging the contemporary consumer preference for transparency and purity, the company ensures its food products contain no binders, additives or artificial preservatives.

The production process, rooted in fermentation and grain-based inputs, aligns with sustainability principles. EQUII anticipates its protein sources will exhibit sustainability metrics that surpass existing benchmarks in the future life-cycle assessments.

“Using grains as our primary input contributes to the sustainability dialogue and imparts wholesome nutrition to our finished products, a big part of why people love our breads,” says Monica Bhatia, co-founder and co-CEO.

Scripting Star-Studded Success Stories

In the past six months, the company has garnered prestigious international accolades and a wealth of testimonials within the food service domain. It has successfully commercialized its bread products through D2C e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, as well as B2B channels, including large hotels and cafes.

Impressed by the bread’s pro-level nutritional attributes and functional excellence, celebrity chef Chad Robertson, founder of Tartine, serves as a brand ambassador for EQUII. His endorsement is grounded in the belief that EQUII is poised to introduce outstanding health benefits.

Bon Appétit Management, under the guidance of its Founder Fedele Bauccio, has also embraced EQUII’s blend and breads for bringing health-forward options to the menu, especially on protein, using sustainable inputs.

On the consumer front, media mogul Oprah Winfrey expressed her delight after eating EQUII bread, participating in collaborative baking sessions with the chefs. Lower carb content without compromising taste and texture is an enticing proposition for bread lovers like her.

“We are winning as we deliver what people need, emphasizing the importance of protein uptake,” says Sebastien Canonne, co-founder and culinary EVP.

EQUII’s rigorous testing protocols have yielded significant insights, addressing concerns commonly associated with protein products, such as digestibility. With a comprehensive dataset comprising over 5,000 taste tests and more than 3,000 bread orders shipped to date, it is gratified to report an almost negligible complaint rate regarding digestive discomfort or gastric issues. This ensures consumers can seamlessly incorporate its protein-rich offerings into their daily diets.

Prior to its official product launch, EQUII conducted extensive taste-testing initiatives, engaging with a large consumer base of over 2,000 individuals. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, culminating in a 92 percent approval rating for its complete protein bread product, translating to a consistent 4- to 5-star rating.

Poised for steady growth in the coming year, EQUII’s strategic vision is centered on national expansion, forging strategic partnerships within the bakery industry. Currently, its products are available in select retail stores and supermarket chains across the Midwest. The goal is to augment its retail footprint in key regions from the current 50 locations to 300, this year. Parallel initiatives are underway on the west and east coasts.

A formidable force in the bread manufacturing industry, EQUII eagerly anticipates unveiling innovative products to showcase the exceptional taste of its bread, elevating culinary creations to new heights and enriching lives, starting with the healthy EQUII flour.