Poonam Kauur Bindra: Stirring Purpose into Every Plate with SAACOOR

Some entrepreneurial journeys begin with a business plan. Others begin with a simple question.

For Poonam Kauur Bindra, Founder & CEO of SAACOOR, that question was deeply personal: What if healthier food choices could improve everyday lives?

Today, Poonam is a celebrated chef, entrepreneur, nutritionist, author, TEDx speaker, educator, and content creator. Yet her remarkable journey started far from commercial kitchens and startup ecosystems—in the small town of Nashik, Maharashtra.

From Beginner to Culinary Professional

A Commerce graduate with a B.Com degree, Poonam had little connection with cooking before marriage. In fact, as she often recalls with a smile, she hadn't even made a cup of tea.

Marriage brought her to Aurangabad, where preparing meals for her family gradually transformed from a daily responsibility into a genuine passion. Encouraged by her husband, son, family, and friends, she began experimenting with recipes, discovering the joy of creating food that brought people together.

What started around the family dining table soon evolved into a lifelong calling.

Determined to refine her skills, Poonam pursued professional culinary education through courses associated with Ducasse Academy, Paris, conducted at IHM Taj, Aurangabad. Exposure to global culinary techniques and international cuisines expanded her perspective and strengthened her commitment to continuous learning.

Building a Digital Community Around Food

Driven by curiosity, Poonam ventured into social media, teaching herself food photography, recipe development, video production, and editing. What began as a creative hobby soon developed into a thriving platform where thousands of food enthusiasts engaged with her recipes and culinary insights.

A significant milestone came when she was invited to write for Lokmat Times Maharashtra. Over the years, her recipes and food columns earned widespread appreciation, giving her the confidence to pursue food as a full-time profession.

Empowering Thousands Through Culinary Education

In 2019, Poonam founded Art of Cooking, a culinary education platform designed to make cooking accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

What started as a small initiative has now empowered more than 50,000–70,000 learners across India and overseas. Many of her students have gone on to launch cafés, cloud kitchens, restaurants, and successful food businesses, while countless others have become confident home cooks.

Her innovative and health-focused recipes also earned her the titles of "Healthy Salad Girl" and "Parantha Girl," establishing her as a trusted voice in healthy cooking.

When Passion Meets Nutrition

As her culinary journey progressed, Poonam realized that great taste and good health should never be mutually exclusive.

To deepen her understanding, she completed a two-year diploma in Nutrition and Holistic Health Sciences, enabling her to combine culinary creativity with scientific nutritional knowledge.

Her passion for educating people extended into publishing as well. She authored Flavors from an Indian Rasoi in 2020, followed by Everyday Healthy Sauces in 2025—both reflecting her mission of making healthier cooking practical and approachable.

The Personal Experience That Sparked SAACOOR

The idea behind SAACOOR wasn't born in a boardroom—it emerged from personal experience.

For years, Poonam struggled with recurring throat discomfort and voice-related issues. As someone who spent long hours teaching cooking classes, she initially blamed constant speaking.

However, a closer look at her lifestyle revealed something unexpected.

She realized that the refined oils she consumed regularly could be contributing to the problem.

That realization inspired a larger question:

"If I'm unknowingly consuming products that aren't ideal for my health, how many other families are doing the same?"

That question became the foundation of SAACOOR.

Building a Brand Around Better Choices

Launched in October 2023, SAACOOR was founded with a clear mission—to offer cleaner, healthier, and thoughtfully crafted food products.

The journey began with cold-pressed oils, produced using traditional methods while maintaining high standards of purity and quality. Customer response validated the growing demand for healthier alternatives.

As a chef and educator, Poonam also identified another gap in the market. Many commercially available Asian sauces relied on ingredients such as palm oil and cottonseed oil—components increasingly avoided by health-conscious consumers.

Since her homemade sauces had already become favorites among her students, she transformed them into commercially available products under SAACOOR, launching Sichuan Sauce and Chili Oil that combined authentic flavors with carefully selected ingredients.

Since then, SAACOOR has expanded its portfolio to include healthy sauces, spice blends, masalas, and premixes, serving both retail and B2B customers.

Today, the brand is available across e-commerce platforms, retail stores, quick-commerce channels like Blinkit, and has also begun expanding into the UAE market.

Every SAACOOR product follows one guiding philosophy:

"If it's good enough for my family, it's good enough for my customers."

Recognition Beyond the Kitchen

Poonam's contributions to food, entrepreneurship, education, and wellness have earned her several prestigious recognitions, including the Women Entrepreneur Award, Women Influencer Global Award, honors from Lokmat Times, and numerous other accolades.

One of the defining milestones of her career came in January 2026, when she delivered a TEDx Talk on food, nutrition, and healthy living—sharing her journey and inspiring audiences to rethink their relationship with food.

Purpose Beyond Business

Today, Poonam seamlessly balances multiple roles—chef, entrepreneur, educator, nutritionist, author, influencer, TEDx speaker, and founder.

Yet beneath every title lies a singular purpose: using food as a tool to improve lives.

Her journey has been filled with challenges, uncertainty, and countless learning experiences. Without a formal culinary background and starting from a small-town upbringing, she built her career through relentless curiosity, consistent effort, and an unwavering willingness to learn.

That simple desire to make her family happy through food eventually evolved into a profession, a mission, and a purpose-driven startup.

A Message to Aspiring Founders

Reflecting on her entrepreneurial journey, Poonam believes success doesn't require perfect circumstances.

"You don't need perfect resources to begin. You only need the courage to start. A small spark of belief, combined with consistent effort, can create possibilities beyond imagination."

For Poonam Kauur Bindra, the journey is still unfolding—and if SAACOOR's story is any indication, its most impactful chapters are yet to be written.