KH News Desk(cbedit@imaws.org)
Meati Foods, a protein cut producer based in Boulder, Colorado, has announced that its products made from the mushroom root will now be available in all Whole Foods locations across the United States. This move represents a significant milestone for Meati as it aims to establish a national presence across multiple sales channels by the end of the year.
Prior to this expansion into Whole Foods, Meati had secured a retail partnership with Meijer in May, making its products accessible in states like Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Wisconsin. The collaboration with Meijer marked the company’s first entry into the mainstream grocery market. Furthermore, Meati made strides towards its national footprint earlier in the year by establishing a mega ranch in Thornton, Colorado, boasting a vast 100,000 square feet of production space with the capacity to produce over 45 million pounds of product annually.
Until these recent retail expansions, Meati Foods was primarily available through online orders and limited distribution in some Colorado and Arizona restaurants, along with a few select retail stores.
Scott Tassani, the President, and COO of Meati Foods expressed his excitement about the partnership with Whole Foods, underscoring the value that Meati brings to the market.
To support its retail launch, Meati made strategic additions to its team in March, bringing on board Elizabeth Fikes and Joseph Johnson, both experienced leaders in operations and supply chain management within the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. Fikes assumed the role of Chief Supply Chain Officer, while Johnson now serves as the Senior VP of Operations and Engineering.
Whole Foods will offer the complete Meati product line, which includes classic cutlet, crispy cutlet, classic steak, and carne asada steak, all available in two-unit packages in the refrigerated plant-based protein section.
Kara Maloney, the Grocery Category Merchant for Whole Foods Market, expressed enthusiasm for adding Meati’s differentiated and quality mushroom-root products to their shelves, highlighting the positive reception of Meati in Boulder before this nationwide expansion.
