UK plant-based food company THIS™ announced the closing of its Series C equity funding round of €23.6 million. The round was completed by Planet First Partners, the European  growth equity sustainable investment platform, through a combination of primary and secondary equity  financing. 

THIS™ will use the capital to accelerate growth in its UK home market through launches of new  product ranges to cater to evolving consumer health preferences, whilst continuing to boost  profitability on its core products. THIS expects to continue to gain market share with a strategy led  by the new CEO, Mark Cuddigan, who will leverage the deep sector knowledge from his previous  position as CEO of Ella’s kitchen. 

The Company is on a mission to lead a plant-based revolution, by providing consumers with nutritious,  hyper-realistic and great-tasing meat alternatives. Last year, THIS™ grew revenue by nearly 50% to  become the third-largest meat alternative brand in the UK. 

Mark Cuddigan, CEO of THIS™, commented: “We are excited to welcome Planet First Partners into the  THIS™ family. Our partnership will be key as we continue to lead a revolution through our plant-based  food to protect animals and the environment, growing brand love to become market leaders in the UK.” 

Since 2019, THIS™ has launched several  market-leading products, including THIS™ Isn’t Pork Sausages, This Isn’t Beef Plant-Based Burgers, THIS™ Isn’t Lamb Kebabs, and THIS™ Isn’t Chicken Shawarma. Through championing great taste and nutritional  value, THIS™ has secured strong repeat sales with the Big 6 supermarkets. THIS™ has recently also  streamlined its operations, consolidating its production from seventeen sites down to just three,  with ongoing operational enhancements continuing to improve gross margins every quarter. 

Since 2019, THIS™ has raised £35 million from institutional and crowdfunding investors, including: BGF,  Backed VC, Five Seasons Ventures, Idinvest Partners, ECG Research, CJ Corporation, Manta Ray Ventures,  Kreos Capital, Seedcamp, ITV and footballer Chris Smalling. 

This investment represents a continuation of Planet First Partners’ commitment to scale businesses which directly contribute to the climate transition. Complementing previous investments by the firm  across energy transition, industrial, and green cities themes, this transaction marks the first investment  by Planet First Partners in its ‘Farm 2 Fork’ vertical, which strives to support more sustainable agriculture  and food systems. The Planet First Partners team holds deep sector expertise in food and beverage  sustainability, spearheaded by Executive Chairman Frédéric de Mévius. Prior to establishing Planet First  Partners in 2020, Frédéric founded Verlinvest, an investment vehicle known for building brands such as  Oatly and Vita Coco. 

Planet First Partners will take two seats on the board of THIS™. The fund is classified as Article 9 under  the European Union’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). This means that the fund invests  in line with strict guidelines, according to which portfolio companies must significantly contribute to sustainability goals. THIS will directly contribute to the increased adoption of plant-based protein diets,  in turn helping to prevent the conversion of biodiversity rich landscapes, and release cultivated land for  ecosystem restoration. 

Frédéric de Mévius, Chairman of Planet First Partners, added: “We are thrilled to partner with  THIS™ and support its mission to revolutionise the food industry. We believe the company is uniquely  placed to capitalise on growing consumer preferences for sustainable and healthy food alternatives,  whilst supporting the environment. I am personally excited to put my experience as a consumer investor  behind a sustainable brand that is totally aligned with our fund’s sustainability objectives and the UN  Sustainable Development Goals.”

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• Source: https://www.eu-startups.com/2024/06/london-based-this-bites-e23-6-million-to-lead-the-meat-alternatives-revolution-in-the-uk/