Afia Founder Farrah Moussallati Sibai focuses her Middle Eastern food company on supporting refugees, a priority that grew out of her family’s own challenging journey. Her mother-in-law spent two years as a refugee of the Syrian civil war before the United States issued her a visa to join the family in Austin. She brought with her the family recipe book and what started out as a farmers’ market booth was quickly selected for the exclusive Chobani Incubator program.
The 2018 edition of the prestigious H-E-B Quest for Texas Best contest also honored the company, leading to the family’s line of frozen falafel and kibbeh appearing on grocery shelves across Texas. Afia continues to support the family’s heritage by employing refugees as part of its rapid expansion that has come with nationwide distribution of its plant-based, gluten-free falafel.
Austin American-Statesman – Austin Chamber Unveils Greater Austin Business Award Winners
Austin American-Statesman – The Story of Afia Foods Includes the Syrian Civil War and a Little Black Recipe Book
Austin Business Journal – 2022 Family Business Awards
Austin Business Journal – Frozen Food Maker Afia Scores Whole Foods Distribution
Austin Business Journal – Frozen Food Maker Afia Using Fresh Millions on New Factory, Product Roadmap
Austin Business Journal – Love, Loss and Resilience Brought This Entrepreneur to Found a Mediterranean Frozen Foods Company
Austin Business Journal – Middle Eastern Food Startup Aims to Significantly Boost Production with New Factory
Austin Business Journal – New Factory Supercharges Afia Falafel Output
Austin Business Journal – Women in Business Awards: Farrah Moussallati Sibai Finds Success Pulling So Many Others Up with Her
Austin Chamber – 2022 A-LIST Winner
Austin Inno – The Companies that Rocked in 2022
BevNET – Taste Radio: The Innovation You May Have Overlooked At Expo West
Fast Company – Chobani’s Secret Ingredient for Backing New Food Companies
Food & Wine – Giving Broadly Is Our New Go-to for Holiday Gifting
Food Business News – Mediterranean Food Company Secures Series A Funding
Food Dive – Afia Announces Distribution at Whole Foods Nationwide
Food Dive – Mediterranean Food Brand Afia Releases New Sun-Dried Tomato Falafel
Food Engineering – Afia Expands Distribution of its Frozen Falafel to Whole Foods
Forbes – Why This Female Founder Is Building an Extraordinary Food Startup to Help Refugees
HerMoney – 10 Inspiring Self-Made Female Leaders and How They Got There
Inc. – What Sealed the Deal? Funding Advice from Some of the Brightest Women in Business
New Hope Network – Afia Foods Elevates Mediterranean Flavors while Uplifting Refugees
NOSH – Afia Expands Presence into Mid-Atlantic
NOSH – Afia Foods Announces Launch of Mediterranean Falafel Bowls
NOSH – Afia Foods Secures Series A Funding to Expand the Mediterranean Food Category
Popular Science – The Best Meat Alternatives of 2023
Progressive Grocer – Progressive Grocer Reveals Inaugural Impact Award Winners
Refrigerated & Frozen Foods – Afia Foods Opens Highly Automated Texas Frozen Food Manufacturing Facility
Refrigerated & Frozen Foods – Afia Launches Falafel in Popular Mediterranean Spice Blend Za’atar
Vegconomist – Splendid Spoon Partners with Afia for New Category of Meal Deliveries
Chobani – 2019 Chobani Incubator
Austin Business Journal – 2023 Fast 50 Fastest-Growing Companies
Austin Business Journal – 2022 Family Business Awards
Austin Business Journal – 2022 Women in Business Awards
Austin Chamber – 2021 Greater Austin Business Awards
Austin Chamber – 2022 A-LIST Awards
Austin Inno – 2022 Fire Awards
Entreprenista100 Awards – 2022 Honoree
Inc. Female Founders 200 – 2023 Honorees
Inc. Regionals – 2023 Honorees
Natural Products Expo West – 2023 NEXTY Awards
Progressive Grocer – 2021 Impact Awards
Refrigerated & Frozen Foods – 2023 Best New Retail Products
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