Food is more than fuel for Kalpana Kethineedi, founder of Kay’s Curries.
It’s memory, heritage, and connection to a feeling of home.
When she moved to the U.S. from India 21 years ago, she leaned on phone calls to her mother. These calls would often involve her mother sharing much loved family recipes that Kalpana would then cook from scratch after long days working in tech. “That was my connection to home. It’s how I stayed close to family, even from far away.”
But by 2021, Kalpana was burning out. She was working long hours as a software developer under a horrible boss, with little time or energy to spend cooking the nourishing meals she loved. Ordering takeout became the norm, but it wasn’t sustainable for her health or finances. “I wanted something that tasted like home, without spending hours in the kitchen,” she says.
That desire was what planted the first seeds of what would become her business.
The idea started as a joke during the pandemic. She thought, “Someone should make Indian versions of these soup kits” and other popular items on grocery apps with cooking instructions as simple as “just add water”. After bulk ordering some vegetables she began to experiment with dehydration, perfecting recipes, and batch making. With no formal background in the food industry, Kalpana leaned on her experience as a product manager, iterating and improving until her kits were ready to launch. She spent most of 2022 and 2023 building her brand while still working full-time. But in 2024, Kay’s Curries became her full-time focus.
Her small-batch, hand packaged, plant-based Indian meal kits are made right here in New England at Hope & Main, a nonprofit incubator supporting inclusive food entrepreneurship. It’s a perfect match for Kalpana, who has built her brand on equity, authenticity, and clean ingredients. Kay’s Curries meal kits are vegan-friendly (except the Chicken Biryani), gluten-free, nut and sesame-free, and contain no preservatives or additives. They’re shelf-stable, ideal for grocery shelves or grab-and-go spaces. Each recipe is steeped in family tradition, especially the biryanis, which Kalpana’s based on her mother’s masala. These products are designed for real life, where time is precious: just add water, simmer, and serve.
What really sets Kay’s Curries apart (aside from great flavors and convenience) is Kalpana’s belief in food as a tool for education and cultural exchange. Indian cuisine is not a monolith. The country's geography, climates, and cultures all contribute to the rich and varied culinary experience. “Most people only know Indian food as butter chicken or chicken tikka masala. But there’s so much more, every region in India has its own comfort dishes.” she explains. Her personal favorite? Pav Bhaji. A richly spiced vegetable curry served with buttered bread.
She recalls a recent interaction at a Massachusetts farmers market that reminded her exactly why this work matters. “An older couple came by, reading all the labels carefully. They were hesitant at first, but we chatted about the ingredients, the flavor, the spice level. They decided to try the Chicken Biryani, and a few days later, they placed a bulk order online. That kind of connection, that trust, it’s everything.”
Kalpana’s products have been especially well loved here in Vermont. At her very first trade show in the state, she was stunned by the positive response. Her Chicken Biryani sold out within the first two hours of the event! That overwhelming reception solidified Vermont as a special place for Kay’s Curries, and Kalpana continues to return regularly for pop-ups and demos. She’s found Vermonters to be curious, welcoming, and eager to try new things, making it one of her favorite places to share her food and story, especially during demos like the recent pop-up at Brattleboro Food Co-op.
As a one-woman show, Kalpana continues travels across New England to build those connections firsthand, popping up at farmers markets, co-ops, trade shows, and food events to demo her products and talk directly with customers. On top of all that she is continuing to build her knowledge base by taking classes and workshops aimed to support her business development and knowledge of the food industry. She’s deeply grateful for the network of organizations like Hope & Main, Food Connects, and various local entrepreneurship programs that work with minority owned businesses that have championed her journey and helped bring Kay’s Curries to more tables across the region.
Through Food Connects, Kay’s Curries can be found at River Valley Co-op in Easthampton, MA; Brattleboro Food Co-op in Brattleboro, VT; Healthy Living Market in South Burlington, VT; Sweetland Farm in Norwich, VT; FH Gillingham & Sons in Woodstock, VT; Powers Market in North Bennington, VT; and Sweet Beet Market in Bradford, NH.
So, what’s next for Kalpana?
Just a casual appearance at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City, the industry’s premier product discovery event, featuring high-quality, artisan products across more than 40 categories. She’ll be showcasing Kay’s Curries with brand-new packaging that reflects the heart and quality of her meals. If you’re planning to attend, be sure to stop by Booth #1239B to explore her products and see for yourself what makes Kay’s Curries special.
Want to get Kay’s Curries to your customers, today? Shop now on the Food Connects Food Hub!