Shreyas Ajmera
President
Seenergy Foods Ltd | Ontario, Canada
Janam Bhumi:
Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Dharma Bhumi:
Barwala (Ghelasha), Gujarat, India
Karma Bhumi:
Concord, Ontario, Canada
In Symbiosis with Nature and Indian Values
The Shreyas Factor: “First espoused by Gautam Buddha and Vardhamana Mahavira, vegetarianism is a concept – an intellectual thought process that allows living species to live, evolve, and survive as the universe expands and climate shifts.”
THE MAN
It takes a certain courage of conviction to live the truth. But living it for over four decades – that takes something fiercer. Shreyas Ajmera took his belief and turned it into a movement that celebrates the bond between man and nature. It is the driving force behind his visionary enterprise. Seenergy Foods Limited in Concord, Ontario, which specialises in supplying high-quality, ready-to-eat, fully cooked frozen beans, grains, lentils, and rice to food industry clients.
He says, “Since ancient times, humans have sought harmony with nature. This philosophy, now backed by science, is gaining renewed popularity as more people strive to preserve our world.”
Ajmera inherited his value-based living from his Gujarati Jain upbringing. Born in 1950, Ajmera was raised in Bombay (now Mumbai) in a home that emphasised integrity in entrepreneurship and instilled in him the Jain principles of non-violence, discipline, and compassion. His grandfather, Jagjivandas Girdhar Ajmera, was a well-respected businessman and a community leader who worked extensively to promote vegetarianism — a core tenet of Jainism. So did his father, Himmat Lal, a mechanical engineer and businessman, and mother, Indumati, a devout and culturally rooted woman. He says, “I owe my negotiation skills to her and my urge to be perfect to my father.”
THE JOURNEY
The values imbibed in childhood travelled across continents to the US, where he pursued an MBA in finance and statistics at the University of Detroit. A natural at statistics, finance, and economics, he knew then that his “way forward was business thereon.”
The seeds of his conscious-living business were sown in 1973, in the US. At the time, Canada’s international diaspora craved a variety of breads, including Indian ones that were not available in the market. He also observed that only 2% of the population consumed vegetarian food. He says, “I decided to create demand through innovative supply.” Seenergy Foods is the result of his research into generational health issues linked to the lack of resistant starches and fibres across cultures. The name Seenergy combines the idea of health benefits with the goal of sustaining life—human and otherwise.
Ajmera quickly transformed the plant-based frozen food sector in North America by pioneering the use of Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) technology for fully cooked pulses to replace the previous blanching processes. This patented process preserved the natural taste, texture, and nutrition of legumes and vegetables without additives, offering a convenient, high-quality source of protein and nutrients for consumers.
Under Ajmera’s visionary leadership, Seenergy rose to prominence as a trusted supplier of frozen pulses across the USA and Canada, with products like black beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, and lentils forming the core of its expanding portfolio. The company now caters to all sectors, retail, food service, restaurants chains, and institutional buyers.
THE SPIRIT WITHIN
Ajmera credits his success to the principles he inherited from his family. His spirituality is his professional guide and personal compass. Beyond the business, Ajmera finds himself deeply immersed in the study of various cultures across continents and is profoundly affected by their histories. He says, “Our perspective is archaeological. We have travelled to over 100 countries—not to grow a business, but to expand our worldview.” And it did exactly that.
Ajmera also reflects, “I learned how various cultures lived, changed, or were destroyed. New religions arrived, took control of mineral-rich lands, and rewrote history to credit their own efforts. These versions were taught in schools around the world, altering cultural identities and even food habits. India remained an exception—nearly 80% of its population still holds on to traditional values.”
This profound realisation inspired the creation of The Shreyas and Mina Ajmera Gallery of Africa, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific at the Royal Ontario Museum—a transformational cultural contribution. More than a space for display, the gallery honours the lived experiences and enduring voices of these regions, illuminating rituals, artefacts, and traditions that speak to spirituality, resilience, and cultural identity.
THE LEGACY
Ajmera’s legacy is not his alone. His wife, Mina, has been an equal partner in the process. He says, “Mina has been my partner for more than four decades. She made me what I am today.”
Mina, an interior designer, has not just helped build her husband’s success, she has also designed the cherished home they live in. Mina and I share the same values of spirituality, which they have bequeathed to their sons – Ativ and Samyag. Ajmera calls them his “backbones”.
Ativ and Samyag were brought into Business at ages 14 and 11 and have since become the greatest champions – promoting plant-based living to future generations. They oversee continued product innovation, taking their father’s pioneering IQF technology of fully cooked beans and expanding the line into over 50 varieties of plant‑based foods, blending business growth with ethical stewardship and sustainability.
Ativ and his wife, Ashley, have two sons – Sebastian and Theo, while Samyag and his wife, Carissa, have a son, Declan, and a daughter, Stella. As the Ajmera family tree grows, so does its mission to encourage living in harmony with nature. As Ajmera wisely puts it, “Since ancient times man has professed to live in harmony with nature. This philosophy is slowly regaining popularity now and more people are making a conscious effort to preserve what we have.”
It is this symbiosis of thought with business, family, and philanthropy that fortifies Shreyas Ajmera’s legacy—one that is firmly rooted in conscience, culture, and continuity.
MAPPING THE INDIA WITHIN
Bharat: Then and Now
“Raised in a Jain tradition, I saw Bharat as a land of pure living—‘Bharatvarsha’, where Tirthankaras are born, a Karma Bhūmi of constant self-improvement, striving for Moksha through the daily pursuit of total quality.
“India was blessed with rich natural resources—water, fertile lands, rare minerals, diamonds, emeralds, gold, and silver—that supported an unmatched civilisation. Yet, our culture valued life above all; instead of resisting invaders, we chose to protect lives over resources. That legacy endures. We come from a land that taught the world to think and build—not to copy, but to create.”
Bharatiya Values that Travelled
“My grandfathers, on both sides, lived by the principles of humility and compassion for all living beings. One even purchased 50 acres of land to rescue cows from slaughter. We were raised to respect nature—but more importantly, to live by ahimsa, the principle of non-violence.
“Our life and business have always been rooted in ahimsa. For us, plant-based living is a way of life. Practising non-violence daily, and honouring nature and all living beings—these are the values we carry with us. Even science and technology are expressions of nature’s infinite permutations.”
Generations Abroad: A New Bharatiya Identity
“The children are deeply committed to global plant-based efforts. They have their own ideas and innovations. That’s the strength of this new generation—they’re rooted and forward-thinking.
“Respect for nature is not just a sentiment—it’s a science. Technology itself is nature. Our tradition of daily improvements and total quality is deeply scientific, deeply Indian.”
Pride, Progress, and the Spirit Of Bharat
“Personally, education in science and finance helped me create large-scale bakery innovations. Finance kept margins in check. We succeeded in mass production—and later added plant proteins to our line. From a global perspective, major intellectual and scientific changes are unfolding. Unlike the past—where belief systems forced people to act—we’re now evolving through science. That’s progress I can believe in.
“What more can I ask for? Twenty percent of people now consume plant-based foods. Growth may be slow—not like IT—but it’s driven by science, which means it will continue to grow.”
Dreams for the Youth and Future of Bharat
“India is incredibly fortunate to have a leader like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is bringing education, opportunity, and a deeper global understanding to Indians, both at home and abroad.” He is enhancing incomes for all, which boosts purchasing power. The future depends on driving demand through innovation—building internal demand within a population of 1.5 billion. When you innovate, you lead the way.
“To the youth, I say: “Be as intelligent as nature in solving problems. Stay energised and always honour all living beings in everything you do—that is our true inheritance.”
BACK TO THE FUTURE – IN FIVE MOMENTS
Food Cravings
THEN
I enjoyed ‘idli’, ‘dosa’, and ‘pani puri’.
NOW
We relish plant-based creations from around the world, manufacturing and selling flatbreads and plant-based foods.
Sport Spirit
THEN
I played cricket, ‘hu tu tu’, ‘kabaddi’, ‘langdi’, chess, snakes and ladders, and ‘Vyapar’.
NOW
I play tennis, golf, and pickleball, while my children enjoy ice hockey, baseball, soccer, cycling, running, and video games. My older son’s favourite school sport was soccer.
Music Tastes
THEN
Voices like Kishore Kumar, Mukesh, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones stirred my soul.
NOW
New music feels uncertain, carving out a new dimension. I follow the news more than music these days.
Holiday Life
THEN
Visits to grandparents’ and relatives’ homes, with frequent temple visits to help me focus on exams.
NOW
Holidays revolve around archaeology, history, culture, nature, wildlife, and exploring vegetarian restaurants.
Leisure Habits
THEN
Movies, friends, and family gatherings defined my leisure time.
NOW
I enjoy shopping, summer sports with friends, winter travel, dining out, and life’s greatest joy—playing with my grandchildren.
AKA
Shreyas Ajmera President | President Seenergy Foods Ltd | Shreyas Ajmera Food Industry Executive | Business Leader Shreyas Ajmera
