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- Tender Food Inc. Secures $11M Series A Funding to Revolutionize Plant-Based Meat
Tender Food Inc. Secures $11M Series A Funding to Revolutionize Plant-Based Meat
Slice of Agriculture Team
June 25, 2024
Key Highlights:
$11M Series A funding led by Rhapsody Venture Partners.
Innovative technology spins plant protein fibers into meat cuts.
Products featured in Boston restaurants and universities.
New board member: Mike Messersmith, former North American President of Oatly.
Partnership with Clover Food Lab to offer Tender products.
Source (Globe Newswire)
Notable Quotes:
"Consumers are largely disappointed with plant-based meat products in the market—they’re too expensive, they don’t taste good, and are mostly limited to burgers and sausages with long, unrecognizable ingredient lists. We need new technologies to address these challenges and drive meaningful adoption in this category, which is crucial for decarbonizing our food system. Our technology allows us to create healthy products that taste great, have the structure and feel of animal meat and are much cheaper to produce.”
"We're a popular vegetarian chain, so, as you can imagine, we try a lot of new plant-based products. Tender's stood out from the start—it's innovative, it's tasty, it's a great addition to our grain bowls and salads. And most importantly, we're hearing lots of positive feedback from our customers—90% of whom are meat-eaters!”
Our Take:
Tender Food Inc.'s recent funding round marks a significant milestone in the plant-based meat industry. By leveraging its unique technology to spin plant protein fibers into structured meat cuts, Tender is poised to address key consumer pain points—taste, cost, and ingredient transparency. The strategic addition of industry veteran Mike Messersmith to the board and partnerships with entities like Clover Food Lab further solidify Tender’s position as a leader in alternative meat production. This innovative approach not only enhances product appeal but also promises a scalable, cost-effective solution critical for widespread adoption and environmental impact. Tender's advancements could very well redefine the future of meat consumption, offering a sustainable and tasty alternative to traditional animal-based products.