Tossup by Himalayan Chapter is gaining attention for tailored nutrition enhancing pet health

1.What inspired you to create Tossup, and how does it align with the mission of the Himalayan Chapter (HC) in enhancing the lives of pets and their parents?

Deepak Sharma: Tossup was born out of our commitment at the Himalayan Chapter to provide pets with the same level of care and nutrition we value for ourselves. Observing a gap in the availability of freshly prepared, natural pet food, we saw an opportunity to deliver meals that prioritize health, flavor, and sustainability. Tossup aligns seamlessly with HC's mission of enhancing the lives of pets and their parents by fostering happier, healthier, and more connected relationships.

2.Can you walk us through the process of developing your vet-approved recipes for Tossup? How do you ensure the meals meet the diverse dietary needs of pets?

Deepak Sharma: Our process begins with consultations with veterinary nutritionists to understand pets' dietary requirements across different life stages, breeds, and health conditions. Each recipe is crafted using high-quality, human-grade ingredients, ensuring balanced proportions of protein, fiber, and essential nutrients. Rigorous testing and adjustments, based on pet trials and vet feedback, ensure that every meal supports optimal health, whether for growing puppies or senior pets.

3.Fresh pet food is a relatively new concept in many markets. How does Tossup plan to educate pet parents on the benefits of fresh, tailored meals for their furry companions?

Deepak Sharma: Tossup is dedicated to educating pet parents through engaging ad campaigns, informative content on social media, and partnerships with veterinarians. Our campaigns emphasize the nutritional advantages of fresh, customized meals over traditional kibble or canned food. We have also held events in various societies to share information about our services and products, highlighting how they can significantly benefit pets’ health and well-being.

4.What challenges did you face in launching Tossup as a cloud kitchen for pets, and how have you overcome them to make fresh pet food accessible and convenient?

Deepak Sharma: One significant challenge was raising awareness about the link between diet and health. Many pet parents are noticing that their pets are developing human diseases such as diabetes and cancer but are not associating these conditions with dietary habits. Such diseases often stem from poor food consumption, including excessive fillers and preservatives found in many traditional pet foods.

To address this, we focused on educating pet parents about the importance of fresh, natural ingredients. Another challenge was ensuring freshness while maintaining scalability, which we tackled by sourcing local, fresh ingredients and implementing efficient cold-chain logistics. Through targeted educational initiatives and a convenient subscription model through our website ( https://himalayanchapter.com), we’ve made it easier for pet parents to access healthier meal options for their furry companions.

5.Could you share some examples of how Tossup meals address specific dietary concerns like allergies or weight management, and the feedback you’ve received from pet parents so far?

Deepak Sharma: Tossup offers meals tailored to address common dietary concerns, ensuring pets receive the right nutrition for their specific needs. For pets with allergies, we provide grain-free and hypoallergenic options made with limited ingredients to reduce exposure to potential allergens.

For weight management, our portion-controlled meals are rich in lean proteins and low in unhealthy fats, helping pets maintain a healthy weight without compromising on flavor.

We also cater to digestive issues by incorporating ingredients like curd and easily digestible grains such as brown rice. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with pet parents reporting improvements in their pets’ coat quality, energy levels, digestion, and overall mood. Many have expressed gratitude for a service that genuinely prioritizes their pets’ health and happiness.

6.What are your future plans for Tossup? Do you envision expanding to new cities or offering additional products and services to cater to the growing demand for fresh pet food?

Deepak Sharma: We aim to have Tossup’s kitchens and services available in major metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, and Chennai, with a target of establishing at least 7-10 cloud kitchens by the end of 2025. To accelerate our growth, we also plan to introduce a franchise model, allowing interested parties to join our mission of providing fresh, healthy pet food. By 2027, we target having close to 50 kitchens and 150 franchises, expanding to most metro cities with multiple kitchens planned in each.