When Abhijith Nag Balasubramanya set up his hydroponic unit in the basement of his Ursviken home last winter, he didn't imagine his lettuce and herbs would soon line the shelves of ICA Kvantum Skellefteå. Abhi arrived in Skellefteå in November 2024, alone, carrying a hydroponic unit and a big idea. Within a weekend, he had it running in his flat, sprouting lettuce and herbs under LED lights.
"I bought my hydroponic unit with me, set it up in a weekend, and started growing lettuce and herbs," he says. "At the same time I contacted Nyföretagarcentrum, and they introduced me to Arctic Business. They were excited, which gave me confidence."
That confidence carried him through months of bureaucracy and learning how to navigate business in Sweden. He posted in a local Facebook group, and within days 40 people had tried his lettuce.
"The feedback was amazing. Many said it was fresher than supermarket produce, with a unique taste because it's grown in pure water. Their favourite was the lemon basil." A turning point came when Abhi read about ICA Kvantum's sustainability focus.
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