Introduce yourself
Hello and welcome, my name is Masood Alokozai; I am the founder and CEO of Saffron Gold, a rare product that has revolutionized the spice industry. Saffron Gold was founded by Dublin based an Afghan family. As an Afghan living in the West we wanted to find a way to introduce the Afghan culture, its unique agricultural products, through our authentic spice we are on a mission to create connections to the vibrant culture of Afghanistan, its delicious food, and its people. We started Saffron Gold to empower Afghan women workers to be connected to the international marketplace through saffron. We are the biggest wholesaler of Saffron in Ireland; we are helping to provide reliable wages and economic stability to the women who work on Saffron farm. Saffron Gold Spice has been a dream for us since its inception, and we are so proud of how far the business has evolved.
As a healthy food lover I have been involved in food sector from my earliest years. My mother is a gifted cook and I watched her closely for many years trying to master her techniques. In her food preparation she would introduce Saffron to almost every dish and therefore I became remarkably aware that when this product is added the flavours proved to be richly enhanced.
What inspired you to join the natural health sector?
I have always been a believer in good wholesome food and know it is a basic requirement for healthy living as well as a respect and awareness for natural food, this is my core philosophy. Our objective at Saffron Gold is to bring an increase in awareness so as to inform other people of the health benefits of Saffron.
Saffron not only enhances the food flavours but has important health benefits. The fact is Saffron has been used in the area of traditional remedy’s for thousands of years, across the region of Afghan, Persian and part of Indian food culture. This unique product has even been used over the centuries to treat an extensive number of illnesses, including cough, heartburn, dry skin, and cardiovascular ailments, including antioxidant and anticancer properties. Saffron is rich in antioxidants, such as crocin, crocetin, safranal, and kaempferol. Antioxidants help protect human body cells against oxidative stress.
Where did you get the idea for your brand?
When I realized that there was a major gap in the market for high quality Saffron I decided that it was obvious that this natural organic product merits being associated with a high quality brand name that would be easy for people to recall.
What makes your brand unique?
Clearly knowing that I specifically deal with the highest quality Saffron,which is acknowledged to be Afghan Saffron. Our product is unadulterated, pesticide-free, and packaged by hand to ensure maximum quality and freshness.
What are your company’s core values?
Trust: Our focus is delivering to the consumers only the premium quality natural organic food product always.
Integrity: A core value is always be true and honest with the wider community, trust is everything.
How do you support your community?
Our Saffron is imported in bulk proudly packed in Ireland to empower local jobs.
What has been the most rewarding part of your brands journey?
I am so proud of how we have created a sustainable social enterprise that continues to grow and evolve. What started as selling saffron to a handful of customers and restaurants throughout the greater Dublin has grown into the biggest wholesaler of this luxurious spice.
Another rewarding part of this journey is that we are engaged with an important charity that directly benefits young marginalized children in Afghanistan. This has proved to be immensely rewarding on several levels. We believe every child deserve a better future, 5% of the profit generated is allocated to this good cause.
What in your opinion makes Irish brands unique?
The production of long established natural organic foods is a recognized trait of foods that are always wholesome and never manipulated, or tainted with additional unwanted additives, unnatural ingredients, preservatives and sugars. The quality of our brand is so unique because the Brussels-based Institute of Taste and Quality has ranked our Saffron No.1 in the world out of 300 types of Saffron from different countries and granted the Diamond Taste Award.
Tell us about something that has shaped your brand?
In my wide travels, across several continents and several decades I have never come across a product with such amazing qualities. I am clearly of the mindset that this product is truly unique.
What do you hope to accomplish in the future?
I wish to increase substantially my support both monetarily and particularly to the charity I have direct involvement with. I find this truly beneficial and uplifting. Due to the success of our Saffron Gold brand we will be introducing a portfolio of whole seed spices, dried Afghan organic fruit, traditional handmade Afghan Gora and sauces of all different types. We have made the rich agricultural products of Afghanistan available on a global scale, creating connections to this vibrant region. I am so excited to see the portfolio continue to grow alongside our network of devoted farmers in Afghanistan. We are confident that the agricultural products we're selling at Saffron Gold are among the best in the world.
