Better Nature launches crowdfund as part of £1m+ fundraising push to transform the meat-free aisle and appoints Fiona Fitzpatrick as New Non-Exec Director

Better Nature, the UK’s leading tempeh brand, has launched a Seedrs crowdfund as part of a £1m+ fundraising push to drive mainstream retail growth for its tempeh range across the UK and Europe.

The raise, which opens to the public today, is looking for investors who share the brand’s vision to help people live healthier lives through tempeh, the 100% natural, protein-packed plant-based food from Indonesia.

The brand will use the funds to transform the meat-free aisle, capitalising on growing demand for minimally processed, natural and nutritious options. 

The raise will also consolidate its position as Europe’s go-to tempeh brand, following a launch into 560 Tesco stores, in addition to new listings at Lidl, Whole Foods Market and Planet Organic in the UK, and REWE in Germany.

Fiona Fitzpatrick, Brand Growth Heroes Founder and Business Coach, has been appointed by Better Nature as a Non-Executive Director to steer the business as it enters this next phase of growth.

With 25 years in the food & drink industry, Fitzpatrick has scaled a number of food challengers to global success, including dessert brand, Gu, and frozen plant-based brand, Strong Roots. She has also coached and mentored over 300 scaling brands through accelerator programmes she has developed and run for The Irish Food Board and for her own programme, Brand Growth Heroes Accelerator.

Better Nature’s Co-Founder and CEO, Christopher Kong, says: 

“We are delighted to have Fiona on board as a Non-Exec Director to help support and steer our business through the next stage of global growth.

“This has been a phenomenal year for business – in the past few months we’ve launched into 560 Tesco stores across the UK, enjoyed sell out success at all 900+ Lidl stores, and have seen revenue increase by 230% YoY.

“There’s growing demand for brands that can offer natural and nutritious plant-forward foods with recognisable ingredients that shoppers can trust, and our Seedrs raise is an exciting opportunity to lead the charge into this new plant-forward era. We’d love as many people as possible to join our mission to get 500 million people eating tempeh by 2030.

“As well as helping to supercharge retail distribution in the UK and Europe, the raise will enable us to make tempeh more accessible through familiar formats such as burgers and falafels, to drive mainstream growth, whilst also appealing to health conscious shoppers.

“In 12 months’ time the meat-free aisle will look very different to how it looks now. With Fiona’s guidance, we have an opportunity to transform the category and lead the movement for natural, nutritious, minimally-processed plant-based foods, and that’s exciting.”

Better Nature’s New Non-Executive Director, Fiona Fitzpatrick, adds: 

“It’s fantastic to be joining Better Nature at this crucial stage in their journey. As a plant-based brand championing natural and nutritious foods, the business is perfectly poised to steer the meat-free category into a new phase of growth.

I met Christopher, Elin, Fabio and Driando on a trip to London earlier this year and was struck by their incredible intelligence, passion, values and determination to make tempeh the mainstream choice for people looking for better sources of plant protein. I’m looking forward to sharing my 25 years’ experience in driving growth and building leaders in the food industry, and supporting these incredible founders on their journey.”

Better Nature’s Seedrs crowdfund campaign is open now: www.seedrs.com/betternaturetempeh

Source: Better Nature Tempeh

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