PACHA

PACHA Natural Collagen operates as a food innovation company out of Istanbul, Turkey, centered on integrating natural collagen into everyday snacks. The company was established in 2019 by Dr. Aslı Zuluğ and Şahin Zuluğ, a husband-and-wife team. Dr. Zuluğ is a food engineer and an academic at Özyeğin University's Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts, and her expertise in food science and gastronomy drives the company's product development. The venture originated from a desire to create clean-label, chemical-free collagen products, a gap they identified in the market about five years prior to a 2025 interview. Their journey began as an R&D project supported by TÜBİTAK, the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey.

The company's core business involves manufacturing and selling snacks fortified with their own naturally produced, chemical-free, halal-certified bovine collagen. Their product lineup, which started with the world's first patented collagen chips, has expanded to include collagen-infused granolas, crackers, and snacks designed for children. These products are baked, not fried, and contain no additives or preservatives. A 10-gram package of their chips, for example, contains approximately 4,000 mg of collagen and has a high protein content of 64%. This positions their offerings as functional foods targeting health-conscious consumers, athletes, and those interested in anti-aging and beauty benefits.

PACHA Natural Collagen serves both individual consumers and business clients. Their revenue is generated through direct sales on their website and online marketplaces like Amazon in Europe and the US, as well as through retail channels. Their products are available in major Turkish retail chains such as Migros and Macrocenter, and in coffee chains like Starbucks and Espressolab across Turkey. The company also supplies its products to luxury hotels for their minibars and breakfast offerings. With an FDA-registered production facility and FSSC 22000 Food Safety Management System compliance, the company is focused on expanding its international presence, with plans to introduce a marine collagen line to cater to the beauty-focused market segment.

Keywords: collagen snacks, food innovation, natural collagen, protein chips, healthy snacks, functional food, clean label, Turkey startup, gastronomy, food technology, wellness products, direct-to-consumer, retail food products, baked snacks, high-protein, halal collagen, online food sales, snack manufacturing, academic entrepreneurship, food R&D