Samworth Brothers has made an investment in plant-based startup Tiba Tempeh to support its growth in the UK and internationally.
The partnership, which involves an undisclosed equity investment in the brand, will support Tiba Tempeh’s product innovation and help it grow its marketing footprint to help drive consumer awareness and trials of its products.
Founded in 2019 by food industry veterans Alex and Ross Longton, the brand is currently listed in stores such as Ocado, Planet Organic and Whole Foods Market while also selling via direct-to-consumer, foodservice and partnerships with recipe box players Mindful Chef and Green Chef.
Its range includes diced, marinated and ready to eat or cook tempeh pieces and a tempeh block for stir-fries.
Last month it expanded into Europe for the first time, launching nationwide in Spain’s biggest department store group, El Corte Ingles, while it is also expanding its core UK retail range and has developed new products for the foodservice sector to launch in the spring.
“Samworth Brothers expertise in the industry will add significant value to further scale our business and help us on our mission to create a healthier world by inspiring people to eat more naturally healthy and sustainable plant-based foods” said MD Alex Longton.
“Tempeh is one of the healthiest plant-based proteins, easy to cook and delicious, making it a perfect option for meat reducers.”
In January 2022 the brand closed a £500k seed funding round led by Lever VC, which invests in early-stage alternative protein companies.
Companies House documents show Samworth commercial director Kerrie Bailey has recently taken a seat on Tiba Tempeh’s board.
The brand’s most recent share issuance was for a chunk of shares worth £385k.
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