Star Mushrooms Company makes vegetarian mushroom-based products from natural ingredients and provides employment opportunities for rural women in Sri Lanka. 

It commenced operations in 2004 by cultivating fresh oyster, abalone, milky, and button mushrooms and expanded to value-added products such as mushroom sausages, mushroom balls, mushroom nuggets, mushroom burger patties, mushroom powder, mushroom soup, mushroom sambols, chutneys, mojus, and more. It also offers mushroom bags, enabling people to grow their own mushrooms at home. 

Enabling empowerment, Star Mushrooms conducts rural training programmes on mushroom cultivation and provides sustainable livelihood opportunities to more than 250 women out-growers.

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Following are excerpts:

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Could you please introduce yourself?

Hi, my name is Nimesha Perera from Star Mushrooms Company. Star Mushrooms was founded by my mother Indira Kumari in 2004.

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Could you tell us about your product portfolio?

We are manufacturers of value-added mushroom products under four main categories: fresh mushrooms, frozen mushrooms, dehydrated mushrooms, and ready-to-eat products.

Under the first category of fresh mushrooms, we have four varieties: oyster, abalone, milky, and button mushrooms. Under our second category are frozen mushroom products such as frozen mushrooms, sausages, nuggets and burgers.

Our third category is dehydrated mushroom products, comprising dehydrated mushrooms, mushroom powder, mushroom soup powder, and mushroom tea bags. Our final category is ready-to-eat products which are processed foods such as mushroom moju, chutney, chilli paste, and so on. 

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How does your brand support ethical sustainable and climate-friendly food choices?

Star Mushrooms is deeply committed to promoting ethical, sustainable, and climate-friendly food choices by actively supporting the rural women community in Sri Lanka through our farmer cluster initiative. Our dedication extends beyond mere agricultural practices; we prioritise sustainable agriculture, education, and the overall well-being of the communities with which we engage.

In our pursuit of sustainable practices, Star Mushrooms takes a resolute stand against the use of any harmful chemicals in our farming processes. We diligently work to minimise our environmental footprint through various measures, including the implementation of eco-friendly packaging, waste reduction strategies, and the adoption of energy-efficient production processes.

Transparency is at the core of our ethos. We meticulously manage our supply chain, ensuring that the raw materials we procure are 100% natural and locally sourced. This commitment to transparency extends to every aspect of our production, reinforcing the trust our customers place in us.

As part of our innovation efforts, we are proud to offer 100% plant-based options. Not only do these products align with our commitment to sustainability, but they also contribute to reducing electricity and water usage. Importantly, these plant-based options are created without the use of any artificial flavours or preservatives, maintaining the purity and natural essence of our offerings.

At Star Mushrooms, we go beyond mere business practices; we actively engage in and support sustainability, ethical practices, and climate-friendly initiatives within the food industry. This commitment is not just a part of our strategy; it is ingrained in our identity, guiding every decision we make. Thank you for joining us on this journey toward a more sustainable and ethical future.

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‍SLYCAN Trust launched the EthicalX programme in January 2022 to enhance Sri Lanka’s start-up ecosystem and strengthen ethical, sustainable, and climate-friendly entrepreneurship on all levels. Through Climate & Innovation Hubs, EthicalX provides capacity-building and technical support for entrepreneurs at various stages of their business development, with a special focus on plant-based food systems.

The EthicalX Food Systems Cell comprises talented and well-rounded entrepreneurs with a common interest in enhancing their capacities, expanding their network, and promoting sustainable and ethical food systems through their enterprises.