We're on a mission to help with food security – worldwide

We Care - As an ethical, sustainable business, we take our commitments to address the challenges of food insecurity worldwide very seriously. In 2022, we donated enough food to create more than 10,000 meals for food pantries in Chicago, and in 2023, we contributed over 20,000 meals. We collaborate with USAID-funded programs and governments in the MENA region to develop initiatives for agricultural communities. Additionally, we provide pro bono seminars, mentorship, and resources for young entrepreneurs in the food and wellness sectors. We also partner with World Bank initiatives to assist manufacturers and growers in standardizing exports in developing global communities. Furthermore, we work with DHL to help deliver donated food to the Caribbean.

Learn More about Our Initiative

about the founder

Meet Rupesh,

I was born in suburban Chicago, and I grew up as the youngest of Indian immigrants. I spent time with my mom’s friends from her ESL courses, learning the joy of sharing culture and food at an early age. I grew up watching both my parents and my grandparents spend hours in the kitchen, lovingly cooking together to make delicious meals and desserts from scratch - and then share that food with family, friends, neighbors. The memory of watching people’s eyes light up trying both new and familiar cuisines has stayed with me ever since.

As I grew up, I began to recognize I had a unique set of analytical skills. Having started attending college at 12 to pursue advanced mathematics, I realized that my capacity to grasp concepts and data could be applied to any industry. I combined my aptitude of math and love of cultures to build foundations of careers in music engineering, architecture, all the while filled with a desire to build bridges and to be useful. I still sketch, tinker, and learn - endlessly curious.

These experiences have enriched me with cultural insights and a profound desire to share these gifts with the rest of America, learning that true understanding comes from sharing connections. I want to give Americans access to better quality food, made from whole ingredients, and also to share joy through access to new cultures.

bringing global foods into the u.s. mainstream

It's like it was made for me.

Over the past twelve years, I’ve honed my skills in wrapping my mind around the challenges of data, analytics, and AI. Working with a group of talented people, we set out to build processes for solving the numerous challenges of helping food brands to enter the U.S. mainstream market. Collaborating with distributors, brand owners, marketing agencies, logistics companies, compliance attorneys, foreign governments, U.S.A.I.D., NGO contractors, and co-ops, I’ve spent time learning firsthand the pain points, hurdles, requirements, and what it takes to build solutions. This has enabled us to partner with a variety of diverse food brands to help find innovative pathways towards their mainstream success. In fact, starting in our partnership with Ziyad, we were able to help tens of thousands of American Muslim families receive religiously important food during COVID that was otherwise unavailable to them.

the why

Sharing cultures

I’m fortunate to be surrounded by brilliant coworkers - together we continue to work to help small brands from all over the world, including here in the U.S., to have a voice and an opportunity to enter the U.S. mainstream market. All the while, we work hard to give Americans everywhere access to better quality food and exposure to new cultures through sharing our love of food. Join us.

Our Team

Lumen Brands is an international collective of passionate experts in operations, logistics, advertising and warehousing. We have the 21st Century skills you need to be your e-commerce partner.