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New York Entrepreneur Launches Nut-Free Pesto Brand Emphasizing Fresh Ingredients
Kaureen Randhawa founded Besto, a nut-free pesto brand, in summer 2024 to address her severe nut allergy and promote fresh food products. The brand uses simple ingredients and requires refrigeration, reflecting consumer interest in less processed foods. Besto now ships nationwide and is available in about 60 stores across 17 states.
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Product While attending the University of Florida, the founder experimented with her mother's recipe.
She modified it by adding apple cider vinegar and incorporating spinach instead of nuts. The founder described the result as a green sauce that resembles traditional pesto in taste. After graduating, the founder moved to New York and worked at Estée Lauder.
She continued making the pesto for personal use at home and work. A friend's husband, involved in Miami's food industry, tried the pesto during a visit and encouraged her to pursue it commercially.
The founder started the brand from her 506-square-foot apartment in New York.
She initially fulfilled orders herself, sourcing ingredients from local stores and delivering jars in Manhattan parks during lunch breaks. The brand now ships nationwide and is stocked in stores across multiple states. The brand appeals to consumers with nut allergies as well as those focused on health and ingredient transparency.
The founder stated that consumers increasingly read labels on products like ketchup, mayonnaise, and pesto to avoid unnecessary additives. She noted the presence of many shelf-stable pesto options in grocery stores but said the brand prioritizes fresh taste over extended shelf life. The launch of the brand occurs amid broader consumer interest in cleaner food options.
This trend involves greater awareness of food processing and ingredients. The founder said the brand's growth reflects these preferences, though specific sales figures were not provided.
