Brassi: Oatmeal with a Hidden Veggie

Brassi, founded by Taylor Hurley and Jacqueline Sun, is an easy solution to such breakfast problems. Brassi’s mission is to enable people to live life without compromises, and that consists of eating food without compromises. They developed a breakfast option that is quick, sustainable, has a balanced macronutrient profile, and delicious. 

Brassi sells a nutritious breakfast crafted from cauliflower oats, successfully hiding a vegetable in what tastes like normal oatmeal. The company’s clever name, Brassi, has a hidden vegetable just like the product. The term Brassi was derived from Brassica, which is the family of vegetables that cauliflower falls under.

The graphic of the founders that’s featured on their packaging.

A Focus on Sustainability and addressing Food Deserts 

The Brassi team is serious about continuing to provide a sustainable, affordable product while maintaining a large enough profit margin to grow. The founders are set on staying sustainable while supporting accessible health. The Brassi team has also made a commitment to creating community. They have already visited several K-12 schools in Ann Arbor to talk about plant based eating with the students. 

To stay a sustainable brand, Brassi made all their food products plant-based, and they do Sustainable Saturdays on social media. Moreover, Brassi’s packaging is 30% post-consumer recycled material, with slower shipping because they bundle to conserve energy. 

All Brassi products are shelf stable, which was done intentionally so the team could focus on distribution in the food deserts that are severely underserved. Being college students themselves, the team understands first-hand that living on a college campus can be like living in a food desert. This is problematic because college is where you form lifelong eating habits. And, breakfast is the easiest meal to make quick options, so it’s a huge problem when college students lack access to affordable, easy to make, healthy options.

Different ways to top Brassi oatmeal.

The Development of Brassi

Founders, Taylor and Jacqueline, met their freshman year through their campus business fraternity. Their friendship grew after they interned together sophomore year. Outside of work, they bonded over workouts, walks to the farmers market, and talking about food they loved.

This past year, they were drawn to Innovation in Action (IiA) because they wanted to gain a new perspective. As business students, the intersection of engineering and design wasn’t on the forefront of their minds. 

Through IiA, the Brassi team was able to talk with advisors and leaders from a variety of backgrounds, which helped them come up with ways to make a positive impact. Taylor and Jacqueline talked to everyday eaters, nutrition students, and food retailers.

From these conversations, the Brassi team learned that the average willingness to pay for a serving of breakfast is $2-3. People almost always make their breakfasts in the microwave or stovetop and they prefer bulk or in store. With this information in mind, the team decided to create a six-serving, bulk package valued at $1.33 per serving.

Brassi oatmeal flavor options.

Brassi currently comes in two flavors: coco and coconut and apple cinnamon. But, the team is hoping to expand the line to include savory cauliflower oatmeal for lunch and dinner options. You can buy their products on their site and at local retailers, like Agricole, the Produce Station, and local farmers markets. The goal is to sell nationwide, but they want strong relationships with all their retailers. So, they are starting with a smaller footprint in Ann Arbor and building out from there. 

You can also check out their socials, on which they stay very engaged! They often participate in trends on TikTok like “Pass the bowl” and “How do you eat your Brassi.” They feature tons of recipes: chia pudding, energy bits, pancakes. And, they often highlight their own journeys, discussing what it’s like to be young, female entrepreneurs. 

Follow along with their journey on your preferred social media platform, or on their website, and watch Brassi continue to grow.