Company Overview

Grain Zero is a pioneer in the gluten-free, grain-free food movement. Long before “gluten-free” became a buzzword, they were creating gut-friendly snacks and baking ingredients that were clean-label, simple, and delicious. Founded over 20 years ago out of a personal health journey, the brand was one of the first to show that grain-free could be indulgent and flavorful. Today, Grain Zero is part of Surati Sweet Mart, a Toronto-based, third-generation family business best known for its Indian and South Asian snacks.

Now with expanded facilities and OU Kosher certification, Grain Zero is entering a new chapter—one that opens up more manufacturing, co-packing, and distribution capabilities while holding tight to its founding values.

We spoke with Steven Bager, Director of the Grain Zero brand division, to learn how the company evolved from a kitchen experiment to a national brand—and what’s next for its OU Kosher-certified product line.

Origins: A Personal Dietary Need That Sparked a Movement

OU Kosher: Can you tell us about your role and how everything started?

Steven Bager: I’m the director of the Grain Zero brand division of Surati Sweet Mart, a Toronto-based food company with a strong presence in ethnic and South Asian snacks. Grain Zero is our “better-for-you” division—founded by my wife and myself around 2001.

She started creating these foods in our kitchen out of necessity. At the time, she was dealing with digestive issues, and there was nothing in stores that fit the strict dietary needs she had: no grains, no starches, no refined sugars. Doctors offered medications, but she chose to research the connection between diet and gut health. She followed the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD), which emphasized simple ingredients and honey as a natural sweetener.

From there, the business grew organically—first to local stores, then across Canada, the U.S., and online.

Staying Ahead of the Gluten-Free Curve

OU Kosher: You were early adopters of grain-free foods when there wasn’t much demand. How have things changed?

Steven Bager: Back then, gluten-free had a negative perception. We even downplayed it on our packaging because people thought gluten-free meant tasteless. Now, gluten-free products are everywhere, but many are still filled with unhealthy fillers and sugars. We’ve never used those. From the beginning, our products have been grain-free, gluten-free by default, and made with clean, simple ingredients—nuts, seeds, fruit, and natural sweeteners like honey, agave, or coconut nectar.

OU Kosher: How has your market changed over time?

Steven Bager: Originally, 80% of our customers had to eat this way for medical reasons. Today, we’re seeing the reverse: most customers just want to eat better and love the taste. But no matter who buys it, our rule has always been—it has to taste great. If it doesn’t taste delicious, it doesn’t make it to the shelf.

OU Kosher Certification & Product Integrity

OU Kosher: Let’s talk about kosher certification. Why was it important for Grain Zero to become OU Kosher?

Steven Bager: Our products were always made to kosher standards—clean ingredients, no artificial additives, non-GMO. But when we moved to commercial production, we wanted formal certification. Initially, we chose a different agency because of its presence in the U.S. market. But after we were acquired by Surati, we reevaluated that decision.

Surati hadn’t needed kosher certification before, but as we expanded into new markets and examined competitor brands, it became obvious—we needed the most widely recognized kosher symbol. That’s why we transitioned to OU Kosher. The OU designation gave us instant credibility across North America and aligned with how we were already operating.

Nothing changed in how we made our products, but having the OU mark reinforced trust. It also helped us expand into new retailers who are familiar with and look for the OU symbol.

The exciting part is that the Ohio facility will offer co-packing services, including OU Kosher-certified, clean-label, gluten-free products.

Facilities & Co-Packing Expansion

OU Kosher: You mentioned Surati’s investment in manufacturing. What does that mean for Grain Zero and other brands?

Steven Bager: Surati recently acquired a nearly 250,000 square-foot facility in Springfield, Ohio. It’s expected to be operational by August. This gives us manufacturing capacity on both sides of the border—our original facility in Toronto and now this new site in the U.S.

The exciting part is that the Ohio facility will offer co-packing services, including OU Kosher-certified, clean-label, gluten-free products. If a client wants to create something that meets those standards, we can now do that either in Toronto or in Ohio. That’s a huge competitive advantage, especially given today’s logistical and tariff challenges.

We can now produce “Made in Canada” for Canadian retailers and “Made in USA” for American ones. It gives us flexibility and scalability we never had before.

Product Development: Clean, Simple, Delicious

OU Kosher: Can you talk a bit about how you approach product development?

Steven Bager: Our product lines include granolas, snack bars, sesame bites, and almond-flour baking mixes. Everything is based on nuts, seeds, and fruit—no oats, fillers, or artificial sweeteners.

For example, our granolas were inspired by my mother’s recipe but reformulated without oats. We have bars with as few as three ingredients and bites inspired by sesame snap crackers—but made healthier. We also introduced fully vegan granola flavors using agave and coconut nectar instead of honey.

We’re dairy-free, soy-free, egg-free, vegetarian, and in many cases, vegan. But we always say: it starts with taste. If it doesn’t taste good, it doesn’t belong in our product line.

Changing Tides in Consumer Behavior

OU Kosher: We know consumers are far more ingredient-conscious. What have you seen in your customers.

Steven Bager: Definitely. People are reading labels more carefully. We didn’t change our approach—the market evolved toward us. You see trend reports today highlighting what we’ve been doing for 20 years: fewer ingredients, cleaner labels, no artificial anything.

Still, there’s education to be done. Just because something is gluten-free doesn’t mean it’s healthy. Our goal has always been to deliver real nutrition—products that are naturally good for your body and taste amazing, too.

Final Thoughts

OU Kosher: Is there anything else you want people to know about Grain Zero?

Steven Bager: Just that we’ve always stood apart because of what we won’t put in our products. No grains. No refined sugar. No artificial additives. And that’s what allows us to check off all the boxes: gluten-free, grain-free, non-GMO, kosher, vegetarian, and in many cases vegan.

Also, we’re very upfront—our products aren’t for everyone. If you have a tree nut allergy, we always say walk away. But if you’re looking for clean, nourishing, great-tasting food, we’re here for you.

Now, with the support of Surati and the reach of the OU Kosher certification, we’re excited to bring our products to more people than ever before.

https://grainzero.com/