Draft:Isabela Akkari

Isabela Akkari Ribeiro Gaz

Isabela Akkari Ribeiro Gaz
Born	1992 São Paulo, Brazil
Occupation	Founder of Isabela Akkari Doces Saudáveis Artesanais
Years active	10
Known for	Pioneering role in the healthy confectionery industry
Notable work	Development of NANEA

Isabela Akkari Ribeiro Gaz (born 1992) is a Brazilian entrepreneur renowned for her innovations in the healthy confectionery market. She is the founder of a successful chain of confectioneries that specializes in refined, health-conscious desserts, catering to individuals with dietary restrictions and those who prefer a healthier lifestyle.

Early Life and Education

Isabela was born in 1992 and grew up in São Paulo, Brazil. After completing her education at Colégio Dante Alighieri., a traditional private school, she pursued a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration at FAAP. During her final year of college, Isabela developed a passion for healthy living and nutrition, which led her to experiment with healthy recipes in her kitchen.

Recognizing a gap in the market for refined, healthy confectionery, Isabela decided to further her culinary education. In 2014, she moved to New York to study at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts , where she specialized in healthy cooking and baking. This experience deepened her understanding of the industry and inspired her to launch her own confectionery brand, Isabela Akkari, upon her return to Brazil. To enhance her expertise, she also completed an advanced course at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris in 2017.

Career and Business Ventures

Isabela's journey as an entrepreneur began when she identified a significant gap in the Brazilian market for high-quality, health-conscious confectionery products. Her inspiration stemmed from her own experiences and challenges in finding suitable food options for individuals with dietary restrictions, such as those with celiac disease or lactose intolerance, as well as for those who simply desired healthier alternatives

Her confectionery brand, Isabela Akkari Doces Saudáveis Artesanais, quickly gained popularity due to its unique focus on producing sweets that are free from sugar, dairy, and flour, while also being beautifully packaged and suitable as gifts. The brand’s products are not only healthy but also aesthetically pleasing, making them stand out in the market.

Since its inception, Isabela Akkari has expanded rapidly. The brand now boasts more than 12 stores across Brazil and serves over 60,000 customers each month . The company's success is also attributed to its own "sugar" manufacturing facility, which ensures that the quality and integrity of its products are maintained at the highest standards.

Innovations and Contributions to the Industry

One of Isabela's most notable contributions to the healthy confectionery industry is the creation of NANEA, a revolutionary sweetener introduced in 2023. She identified a common issue: many people avoided sugar-free sweets due to stomach discomfort caused by xylitol.

To address this, Isabela developed NANEA, a sweetener made from isolated tapioca fiber and stevia. NANEA is unique because it contains non-absorbable, non-digestible carbohydrates, has a prebiotic effect, and offers a caramelizing power that enhances the taste and texture of desserts. By creating NANEA, Isabela not only eliminated the adverse effects associated with xylitol but also reinforced her brand's commitment to healthier, high-quality alternatives.

Isabela continues to innovate in the healthy food industry, driven by her passion for creating delicious, nutritious, and beautifully presented desserts. Her work has filled a significant gap in the market and inspired others to embrace healthier eating habits without compromising on taste or quality. As her brand grows, Isabela remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of healthy confectionery.