Livekindly Collective has entered into a deal to acquire The Dutch Weed Burger, an Amsterdam-based company that uses seaweed to make plant-based meat alternatives.
Founded in 2012, The Dutch Weed Burger offers a variety of plant-based food enriched with seaweed and microalgae such as its Weed Burger, Weed Balls, Weed Dogg, Seawharma and Nuggets. The brand’s products are available direct-to-consumer, from supermarkets such as Albert Heijn, as well as a variety of restaurants.
The deal expands Livekindly’s brand portfolio – that currently includes Oumph!, The Fry Family Food Co., LikeMeat and No Meat – with seaweed, a source of protein that it claims is cultivated using minimal fresh water and no agricultural land.
With the acquisition, Livekindly Collective intends to scale internationally in the UK, Nordics, and the US and Canadian markets; as well as enter into Asia.
“Innovation in plant-based protein has created a tremendous opportunity to transform the global food system, as consumers increasingly demand tasty and nutritious alternatives to meat,” said Kees Kruythoff, CEO and chairman of Livekindly Collective.
“With the addition of The Dutch Weed Burger, we expand the types of plant-based protein we can offer our consumers in more than 40 countries and accelerate our mission to make plant-based living the new norm.”
The acquisition comes shortly after Livekindly closed a funding round of $335 million, bringing its total funding to more than $535 million in its first 12 months since launching.
Mark Kulsdom, CEO and founder of The Dutch Weed Burger, added: “We are so excited to join these driven, experienced and passionate leaders who are going to help scale our brand and change the food culture around the globe.
“Seaweed farming is highly sustainable because it grows profusely in the ocean and it breathes out oxygen while it grows. The plant is nutrient-rich and healthy while bringing a unique umami flavour to people’s taste buds. These ocean greens mix perfectly with protein-rich beans and other innovative textures we use.
“I am looking forward to working within Livekindly Collective, because the time for real change is imminent and more urgent than ever.”
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