It all started in 2022 when Francisco Salazar (35) and his wife Carolina Barrios (30) were looking for an opportunity to start a business together. The idea was still not clear to them, and the announcement of Carolina’s pregnancy further accelerated their plans, and soon the perfect idea was born.

This is how Ohmai was born, flavored peanut butter, which has already entered the Ecuadorian market. “It’s a new product, we have different flavors of peanut butter: white chocolate, sugar-free chocolate, white chocolate and cookies, hazelnut cream and chocolate,” explained Salazar.

At first, Francisco tried to import similar products from other countries, but they did not meet his expectations in terms of taste. That’s when he decided to take over the reins and start his own company. So he got a bank loan to get the necessary machinery and achieve the perfect mix. Sleepless nights and great effort were needed to perfect the product and guarantee its quality. Experts in nutrition and scientific gastronomy abroad advised on the quality process to which the mixture was subjected, ensuring that it met the most demanding standards.

Francisco Salazar and Carolina Barrios flavored peanuts. Photo: Jose Beltran

The most important confirmation came from friends and acquaintances who tried Ohmai and were delighted with its taste. With that approval, Francisco knew he was on the right track. Ohmai’s visual identity is also carefully designed. Its mentalizers wanted to convey fun, innovation and creativity in vibrant colors that complement the flavors of the products. With the help of a ‘brand manager’ (brand creation expert), Francisco and Carolina created the logo.

“We saw in colors an opportunity to play with promotions and more, we also realized that people who prefer a brand identify, through colors, with their favorite flavors,” said Salazar.

With a finished product and a solid brand, Ohmai made its first steps on the market through the Delportal supermarket chain, with a 220 gram package.

Now its main goal is to become the brand of choice for consumers and expand to other chains.