About Tahina+ Inception

Our History

Mr. Bassam Esbeit, an organic chemist who graduated from the University of Toronto in 1991, has spent many years in the food industry. In 2005, he founded a tahini manufacturing facility and dedicated significant time and resources to experimental product development in the tahini-making process. By 2015, he modernized his factory with a traditional hulling process, leveraging his experience in mechanical engineering and knowledge of various machinery. Mr. Esbeit's expertise also extends to HACCP requirements and food safety practices.

There are primarily two ways of producing tahini - through a dry hulling process and a traditional method, with both processes have its own pros and cons. In 2019, Mr. Esbeit successfully achieved a breakthrough by developing a processing line that combined automation and cost-effectiveness of dry hulling with the quality and characteristics of the traditional method. Unfortunately, an accident in February 2019 led to severe shoulder injuries, forcing him to temporarily close his facility.

In his efforts to resume operations, Mr. Esbeit advertised for positions and explored various avenues, including selling his IP. Manufacturing tahini proved to be a complex and labor-intensive process requiring specialized expertise, which made it challenging to find qualified individuals. Through a connection with his employee Parvez, Mr. Esbeit met Mohmed Dalal, a sesame seed grower from Gujarat, India, with a keen interest in the tahini business.

Tahina+’s four co-founders - Saleji Ravat, Hadi Sbeit, Hanna Sbeit, Zubeda Bobat initially wanted to pursue the venture in Dubai, UAE. Mr. Esbeit introduced Mohmed Dalal and Saleji Ravat to Hadi Sbeit, who resides in Dubai. Consequently, Mr. Dalal asked Mr. Ravat from India to come to Dubai and Mr. Esbeit sent Parvez Patel from Canada. The team convened in Dubai to assess various economic zones and conduct a feasibility study for operating a business in the UAE. Despite this, Mr. Esbeit advocated for full operations to be based in Canada due to the significant potential in the North American market. Ms. Sbeit, qualified in quality control, expressed entrepreneurial interest and joined the startup. Ms. Bobat, a British citizen residing in Zambia, brought sales expertise and familiarity with the African continent, particularly Ethiopia. Working closely with Mr. Dalal in India, Mr. Ravat took on the role of IT specialist, handling all IT-related tasks, including website development, team meeting collaboration pages, and QC testing. Following multiple meetings, the co-founders agreed to base full operations in Canada. Despite immigration obstacles, the team researched immigration consultants to facilitate their move to Canada for the business. The startup program, supported by organizations like Brilliant Catalyst, aided in the development and initiation of their prototype, setting them on the path to achieving their goals.

Our Mission

To present restaurants and food services operators with a delectable tahini paste to address the palate of their customers.

To offer nutritious tahini blends with versatility of applications in sauces, salad dressings and others, to satisfy the health-conscious consumers.

Our Vision

To operate a state-of-the-art tahini processing facility utilizing proprietary, innovative processing method that yields high throughput, best quality tahini paste recognized for its signature smooth, sweet and nutty flavour.

Meet the Founding Team

MOHMED DALAL, PRESIDENT

Mr. Mohmed Dalal is a successful sesame seed farmer with over 20 years of experience managing a family farm in India. His intricate knowledge of sesame seeds, along with the farming and harvesting cycles would provide insights to the production of tahini paste. His understanding of quality tahini paste will be highly invaluable during the R&D and continuous improvement process to ensure Tahina+’s tahini paste meet the intended specifications. Mr. Dalal is also a successful entrepreneur, having managed own a DHL Courier Services Franchise, Blue Dart, since 2006. His unique combined sesame seed farming knowledge and business management acumen will directly contribute to strategic initiatives of Tahina+ for its successful launch and growth.

The roles and responsibilities of Mohmed Dalal as the President are:

Provide oversight to the site selection, construction and commissioning of the manufacturing plant

Provide planning and leadership for the Company by ensuring the appropriate systems, processes, budgets, strategic plans, and forecasts are developed and executed to meet or exceed Company revenue and profit goals

Develop, communicate and implement effective growth strategies and processes

Maintain awareness of the competitive market landscape, expansion opportunities and industry developments

Establish partnerships with stakeholders

Outsource professionals for start-up initiatives

Manage relationships with stakeholders

HADI SBEIT, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

Hadi Fadi Sbeit is an experienced Accounting Team Lead currently working at R-mixed FZCO in Dubai. He has achieved significant accomplishments in reducing company costs and improving financial reporting processes. Hadi has a background in financial management, budgeting, and forecasting. He has supervisory experience, mentoring accounting teams, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations. His professional experience includes roles at Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) in various countries.

Mr. Sbeit holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Lebanese American University.

The roles and responsibilities of Hadi Sbeit as the Director of Finance are:

Drive the financial planning of the Company by analyzing its performance and risks

Retain constant awareness of the Company’s financial position and act to prevent problems

Set up and oversee the Company’s finance IT system

Oversee all audit and internal control processes

Develop the corporate fundraising strategy and manage relationships with partners and investors

Prepare timely and detailed reports on financial performance

ZUBEDA BOBAT, DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING

Zubeda Bobat is an experienced professional with a background in IT consulting, lecturing, and management roles. Ms Bobat has served as the Financial Consultant and Administrator as well as a Marketing Strategist for Moniques Pre and Primary School Ltd. since 2017. With a diverse work history that includes positions at KPMG Consulting, Astro Holdings, and as a part-time lecturer, Ms. Bobat has extensive experience in IT consulting, project management, and marketing. She is skilled in various programming languages, databases, and operating systems. Her extensive knowledge in marketing will contribute to an effective marketing campaign to Tahina+.

In addition to her role as the Director of Sales and Marketing, Ms. Bobat will facilitate procurement and logistics of sesame seeds from Ethiopia due to her extensive knowledge about Africa.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in Information Systems (1994) from University of East London and Master's degree in Applied Computing (1995) from Middlesex University.

The roles and responsibilities of Zubeda Bobat as Director of Sales and Marketing are:

Manage Company brand and promote the platforms on various marketing channels

Oversee the planning, development and execution of marketing and advertising initiatives

Increase sales through successful marketing for the entire organization, using market research, pricing, product marketing, marketing communications, advertising, and public relations

Oversee the Company’s marketing budget

Monitor and report on the effectiveness of marketing communications

SALEJI RAVAT, DIRECTOR OF IT AND IP LEAD

Mr. Ravat contributes five years’ experience as an IT technician and machine operator at Ravat Flour and Spices, where he introduces digitization to daily operations for increasing production output. He concurrently manages a client’s website and data management with Topaz Guest House since 2017. His combined process digitization and web management experience will contribute to efficient performance both on Tahina+’s production floor and day-to-day operations.

Mr. Ravat holds a Bachelor of Computer Applications (2017) from Vivekanand College.

The roles and responsibilities of Saleji Ravat as Tahina+’s Director of IT are:

Develop technical aspects of the company’s strategy to ensure alignment with its business goals

Ensure profitable use of technology

Develop a website, navigate and assist team members with digital component

Maintain company domain and email management for all the co-founders

Build platform for quality controller for testing

Select digital platforms for internal team collaborations and keeping records

Supervise system infrastructure to ensure functionality and efficiency

Build quality assurance and data protection processes

Monitor KPIs and IT budgets to assess technological performance

Use management and client feedback to inform necessary improvements and adjustments to technology

As the IP Lead, Mr. Ravat will be responsible for the following:

Develop and implement IP strategies:

Identify, secure, and maintain the company's IP portfolio, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.

Monitor and evaluate IP performance and make recommendations for improvements.

Stay up-to-date with IP laws and regulations both domestically and internationally.

HANAA SBEIT, DIRECTOR OF QUALITY CONTROL

Hanaa F. Sbeit contributes 20 years professional experience within academic and administrative tertiary education, as well as international medical organization and healthcare consulting. She possesses a range of skills including project management, data analysis, quality control, and research. Ms. Sbeit has worked as a Healthcare Consultant in Qatar since January 2021. In this role, she is responsible for planning and implementation of projects according to national and organizational strategic priorities, managing and evaluating projects, and advising on quality initiatives. Prior to this role, Ms. Sbeit worked as an English Teacher (from January 2018 to December 2020) and a Monitoring and Evaluation Manager with the International Medical Corps in Lebanon (2013-2016). Her roles in Quality Controller entail managing, supervising and controlling quality of the operational and administrative functions, activities and projects.

Ms. Sbeit holds a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Technology (2007) and Masters in Public Health (2012) with a focus on Health Management and Policy from the American University of Beirut. Ms. Sbeit has attended various training programs and workshops in healthcare and public health.

The roles and responsibilities of Hanaa F. Sbeit as the Company’s Quality Control include:

Develop, implement, and periodically evaluate the quality control program to ensure consistent product quality from raw materials to finished products,

Lead the food safety, HACCP certifications for Tahina+

Ensure all raw materials and finished products meet the quality, integrity, and efficiency standards

Prepare reports on each test preformed for measuring quality, quantity and composition

Compute formulas, percentages or production specific factors using mathematical procedures

Assist in setting quality standards and ensure that production is maintained at such standards

About us

We are a Diverse group of people who have acquired an Intellectual Property to produce Tahini in an innovative process that will maintain the same qualities and characteristics of the traditional process.

What is Tahini?

Tahini is mainly used as a raw ingredient as it plays a crucial role in making many ethnic dishes such as: tahini sauce, hummus or baba ghanoush dip and even as salad dressing.
Our product is unique in taste and characteristics as we will be sourcing Ethiopian Humera Sesame Seeds (known as the best in the world) as well as North American sesame known for its small size.