Ahimsa Companies acquired Wicked Kitchen along with Good Catch and Current Foods as part of an “industry-wide consolidation effort.”
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The newly formed Ahimsa Companies says it is on a “mission to remove animals from the global food system” and aims to create more opportunities for vertical integration and scale through its consolidation efforts.
Now part of Ahimsa, Wicked Kitchen plans to expand to more retailers and foodservice providers in the future. First launched in Tesco in the UK, Wicked Kitchen already boasts more than 150 products, around 50 of which are available in the US at retailers such as Target, Walmart and Kroger.
“Wicked Kitchen is proud to join Ahimsa Companies,” Wicked Kitchen CEO Pete Speranza said in a statement. “We are aligned in our mission and believe Wicked Kitchen is stronger today and better positioned to serve health- and environmentally-conscious consumers who aren't willing to sacrifice taste or convenience.”
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“Integration will drive success of plant-based Wicked Kitchen”
Due to a significant increase in interest in sustainable, plant-based and alternative seafood, Wicked Kitchen acquired Good Catch in 2022, followed by Current Foods in 2023.
Demand for alternative meat has plateaued somewhat after a period of rapid growth, but increased production capacity, falling prices, and improved flavor and nutritional value could reinvigorate the sector.
According to Matt Thalman, CEO of Ahimsa Companies, consolidating the plant-based sector could make these goals easier to achieve, especially in such a crowded market.
“We have long said that consolidation leads to success in the plant-based industry,” Thalman said. “As Ahimsa Companies integrates more brands, it will be able to leverage this strength to stabilize and shape the new plant-based landscape.”
Speranza, who has led Wicked Kitchen since 2020, and founders Chad Sarno and Derek Sarno will both remain shareholders in the company.
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