Sustainability has become increasingly important in the food service industry as businesses recognize their significant environmental impact. By adopting sustainable practices in sourcing, preparation, and waste management, food service establishments can reduce their environmental footprint, save money, meet consumer expectations, comply with regulations, and differentiate themselves in the market.
One prominent brand that prioritizes sustainability and affordability with high-quality products is Avatar Natural Foods, founded by Award-Winning Chef and CEO, Diego Silva. Avatar Natural Foods is a food service company that specializes in manufacturing and distributing exclusive products. It offers affordable, healthy foods and creates, makes, and distributes its products entirely in-house. From start to finish, the company focuses on providing economical solutions for its consumers. The recipes and philosophy at Avatar Foods are simple: “We like to keep stuff affordable, tasty, premium, and fresh!”
The Journey from Nevada to Global Markets
With over 15 years of experience, Avatar Natural Foods manufactures, distributes, and imports high-quality meals in a center of operations located in a 70,000-square-foot facility in Henderson, Nevada. This facility houses the production and test kitchens for Avatar Foods’ sister brands: Bettr Bowl, Tuscany Cookies, Cali Crumble and Eat Pita.
Avatar Foods sources the highest quality all-natural ingredients for all the products it makes. Its food contains no preservatives, artificial flavors, or artificial colors. The company offers a wide range of delicious products, including Frozen Ready to Eat Meals, Full Range of Cookies, Pita Chips and Pita Bread.
Avatar Foods’ food processing plant has repeatedly met and exceeded qualifications and is an FDA-registered, USDA organic, HACCP, and GMP-certified facility. Its consumer base includes independent retailers, supermarkets, greengrocers, and delicatessens.
Avatar Natural Food Services
| Private labeling Avatar Natural Food Services offers private labeling, which allows customers to choose items produced by Avatar’s team at its sister brands and sell them under the customer’s own branding and packaging. | Co-packing Avatar Natural Food Services can also manufacture the customer’s product line, handling the design, packing, and shipping of the products. |
| Wholesale Avatar Natural Food Services has an extensive list of natural food products for customers to choose from. The company is dedicated to supporting and growing its customers’ businesses. | Branded Products Bettr Bowl Cali Crumble Eat Pita |
The Commitment to Quality and Accessibility
Avatar Foods’ mission is to create innovative, all-natural products that meet the highest quality standards. The company wants to show people that healthy food can be delicious, affordable, and accessible to everyone. Avatar Foods believes in promoting a healthier lifestyle through affordable gourmet food, by distributing high-quality products to homes across America.
The purpose of Avatar Foods is to change lives through healthy and affordable gourmet food and baked goods that are ready to eat. The company offers a wide variety of options made with all-natural, fresh ingredients, keeping customers safe from preservatives and unnecessary chemicals.
As a food service manufacturer and distributor, Avatar Foods takes food safety seriously. But more than that, the company does not compromise on the quality of its ingredients or the freshness of its gourmet food.
Overcoming Unexpected Hurdles
One unexpected challenge that Avatar Foods faced was developing their individually quick-frozen (IQF) process for Bettr Bowl. The company wanted to lock in the freshness of the ingredients without using any preservatives, but the initial results were not satisfactory – the texture of the product was not quite right.
After weeks of trial and error, the Avatar Foods team finally mastered the IQF process. This was a breakthrough moment, as it solved the texture issue and elevated the overall quality of the Bettr Bowl product beyond their initial expectations.
The next big challenge for Avatar Foods is making healthy and sustainable food available to everyone without compromising quality. Often, keeping costs low means sacrificing standards. However, the company is working to scale its operations in a way that keeps prices affordable while maintaining its high-quality standards. Through innovations in packaging, sourcing, and production, Chef Silva envisions Avatar Foods leading a shift where healthy, sustainable food becomes the norm, not the exception.
Struggle to Uphold Eco-Friendly Practices
There was a time when the cost of sustainable packaging suddenly increased. Avatar Foods had two choices: either compromise on the quality of their products or pass the additional cost on to their customers. However, Chef Silva refused to accept either option.
Instead, Chef Silva and his team worked hard to renegotiate with their suppliers and streamline the operations in other areas to absorb the increased cost. It was not an easy task, but it reinforced Avatar Foods’ commitment to sustainability and quality without sacrificing affordability. This decision ultimately strengthened Avatar Foods’ reputation and proved that staying true to its values would pay off in the long run.
Sustainable Innovation in Food Production
One project that stands out where sustainability was a game-changer is Avatar Foods’ initiative to replace seed oils with olive oil or avocado oil in its products. This change required extensive testing to balance flavor, shelf life, and cost, but the result was a healthier product that aligned with the company’s sustainability goals. This shift reduced the environmental impact and resonated with health-conscious consumers, making it a win-win situation for everyone involved.
Redefining Quality and Affordability in the Food Industry
Chef Diego Silva, the CEO and founder of Avatar Foods, is dedicated to providing the finest quality food products made with only the best natural ingredients. His mission is to improve the food market across the country by offering affordable, delicious, and healthy food options that allow people to live better lives.
With years of brilliant experience in the culinary field, Chef Silva created the Avatar Natural Foods Company to fulfill all of its customers’ needs with affordable gourmet food. Every aspect of his work is infused with passion and a deep care for food and a healthy lifestyle.
As part of his vision, Avatar Foods aims to make American food clean and healthy. Chef Silva is determined to provide homes and retailers across the country with nutritious food options that are clean, delicious, accessible, and affordable.
Bridging Communities through Food
Chef Silva grew up in Brazil and later moved to the streets of New York City. In both places, he experienced firsthand how good food was often a luxury that only wealthy people could afford. He believed that this was not right, as food is a fundamental part of life and should bring people together, not divide them. Chef Silva’s upbringing shaped his belief that everyone deserves access to delicious and healthy food, regardless of their background.
At the age of 22, his defining moment came when he acquired a struggling pita bread company. He recognized the company’s potential but also saw how disconnected the food industry was from its consumers. Standing in that small bakery, Chef Silva envisioned a future where food was not just a product, but a bridge to better health, community, and opportunity. This vision became his driving mission.
“It wasn’t just about saving the business; it was about transforming how people experience food—something I’ve carried with me every day since,” Chef Silva says.
When Chef Silva first took over the pita bread company, he was unsure if he could manage the business side while staying true to his passion for food. There were times when he felt overwhelmed by the numbers and logistics. What helped him overcome this was surrounding himself with mentors and learning everything he could about running a business. He realized that his determination to create something meaningful was stronger than his fear of failure.
Transforming Myths
There’s a common myth that sustainability is too expensive for small companies to implement. However, Chef Silva has proven this wrong by rethinking traditional processes and investing in efficiency. Sustainability can reduce costs. For example, Avatar Foods’ streamlined supply chain lowers expenses and minimizes waste – a benefit for both the environment and the company’s bottom line.
Including High Protein Options
One surprising trend that Avatar Foods embraced is the demand for high-protein options. At first, Chef Silva didn’t think this was an area the company could excel in. However, after experimenting with recipes, he created high-protein bowls that have become some of Avatar Foods’ most popular products. This experience taught him to always stay curious and open to change.
Heartfelt Moments
For Chef Silva, one of the most touching moments came from a heartfelt email he received from a single mother. She shared how Better Bowl had become a staple in her home—offering meals that were not only affordable and healthy but also easy to prepare amidst her busy schedule.
She wrote, “As a single mom, it’s often hard to find meals that I feel good about giving my kids without breaking the bank or spending hours in the kitchen. Better Bowl has been a game-changer for us—it’s become our go-to.”
Reflecting on her story, Chef Silva said, “Knowing that our products are helping families like hers is why we do what we do. It’s moments like these that remind us of the real impact we’re making, and it makes all the effort truly worthwhile.”
Empowerment through Ownership and Collaboration
Chef Silva has built a culture of ownership and collaboration at Avatar Natural Foods, where team members are encouraged to take initiative and share their ideas. A shining example of this is Carlos Ozores, who joined the company at just 16 years old and, through hard work and dedication, now holds a key leadership role at the age of 23.
One of the company’s greatest successes came from this spirit of teamwork and innovation. When Chef Silva announced a $10,000 bonus for the best recipe idea for their frozen meal line, team members Jony Guzman and Mara Saravia partnered up to create what is now the company’s top-selling dish: Birria. Their creativity and collaboration not only earned them the reward but also helped shape one of Avatar Natural Foods’ flagship products.
Chef Silva reflects, “Stories like Carlos’s journey and the success of Jony and Mara remind me why we emphasize collaboration and ownership. When people feel supported and valued, they create extraordinary results.”
Culinary Leadership Philosophy on Detail and Transformation
One lesson Chef Silva carries from the kitchen is that – “every ingredient matters, no matter how small.”
In business, this translates to attention to detail. Whether it’s refining a recipe, reviewing a marketing strategy, or addressing employee concerns, he believes that the little things often make the biggest difference. It’s a mindset that has helped him balance creativity and leadership.
Chef Silva hopes that when people think of Avatar Foods in the future, the one word that comes to mind is “Transformative.” He wants Avatar Foods to be remembered as a company that changed the way people think about food – in terms of taste and health, and in how it impacts the world.
“It’s about creating something bigger than just a brand – it’s about leaving a legacy of change and care,” he says.
