Ex-flight attendant creates PaPis pea protein snacks for business class passengers

Former flight attendant Nadja Schoser grabbed the opportunity to address a gap in the market when passengers noted that there weren’t many savory snacking options on offer on board other than crisps and pretzels.

Satisfying hunger on the move​

“Passengers were always asking for something a little more nutritious and satisfying​,” she told BakeryandSnacks.

“With this in mind, I created PaPicante to develop the savory snack bars.”​

Schoser explained the company’s biggest challenge is to source the base ingredient, a pea protein crisp made up of pea protein and rice flours.

“To date, I’ve only been able to source pea protein from northern France; sadly, nowhere else in the EU.​

“I have found several suppliers in the US, but this is expensive – with customs and airfreight – and also time-consuming in getting the product back to Germany,”​ she said.

Technology developed with DIL​

As such, PaPicante has been working in conjunction with the German Institute of Food Technologies (Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik - DIL) to develop the technology to produce the crisps in Germany.

“We have the recipe and a contract manufacturer producing the Papis; now we need a food producer that has the machinery needed to produce the pea protein crisp,”​ said Schoser.

The startup produced a few Papis bars just days before showcasing the product for the first time at ISM in Cologne, Germany in January.

Clean label​

PaPis are made from pea proteins, rice flour, quinoa and dried vegetables, and flavored with fresh herbs and exotic spices.

The company has introduced three flavors to the range, including American Style (paprika, rosemary, thyme, onion, steak and pepper spice, and sea salt); Asian Style (coconut, sesame, mango, chili, peanuts and curcuma); and Mediterranean Style (tomato, basil, dried cheese, oregano, pine nuts and sea salt).

Papis bars are made from natural ingredients with no preservatives, artificial colors or flavors and can be labelled ‘clean’. They are also vegan, gluten-free, and high in protein and fiber.