Tender Food secures $11m in Series A to revolutionize plant-based meats

Tender Food Inc., a trailblazing food technology startup based in Somerville, Massachusetts, has successfully closed a significant Series A funding round, amassing over $11 million. The funding round was led by Rhapsody Venture Partners and supported by both existing investors—Lowercarbon Capital and Safar Partners—and new stakeholders, including Claridge Partners and Nor’easter Ventures. This new influx of capital will empower Tender to advance its pioneering technology aimed at revolutionizing meat production and consumption.

Tender Food is setting a new standard in the plant-based meat industry, transcending current market leaders like Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat. Utilizing its patented technology, which spins plant protein fibers similarly to cotton candy, Tender creates structured cuts of meat that are not only hyper-realistic and nutritious but also affordable and versatile, capable of mimicking everything from pulled pork to chicken breasts, and even seafood and steak.

Christophe Chantre, co-founder and CEO of Tender, highlighted the limitations of existing plant-based products, noting their often prohibitive costs, poor taste, and limited variety. “Consumers are largely disappointed with current plant-based meat products—they’re too expensive, don’t taste good, and offer little variety beyond burgers and sausages,” Chantre stated. Tender’s technology promises to overcome these obstacles by delivering products that are healthy, tastefully satisfying, and more economically produced than their animal-based counterparts.

Tender has already introduced its innovative products, such as beef short rib and chicken breast, across various restaurants and universities in the Boston area. A notable partnership with Clover Food Lab in May 2024 has brought Tender’s offerings to all Clover locations, where they have been well-received by a predominantly meat-eating customer base. Chris Anderson, Senior Vice President at Clover, praised Tender’s products for their innovation and appeal, acknowledging the positive feedback from customers.

With the latest funding, Tender plans to significantly increase production capacity at its new facility, aiming to produce millions of pounds of plant-based meats and commercialize its products on a larger scale. “Our production costs are already low today, and we have barely started scaling,” Chantre added, emphasizing the strategic importance of price competitiveness in expanding industry growth.

The addition of Mike Messersmith, former North American President of Oatly, to its board of directors marks another strategic move by Tender to fortify its leadership team. Messersmith brings a wealth of experience from his time at Oatly, where he led the brand’s successful launch and expansion in the U.S. market.

Founded in 2020 by a team of Harvard engineers, Tender Food is at the forefront of food technology innovation in the Greater Boston Area. The company’s proprietary technology not only promises a sustainable alternative to traditional meat production but also supports environmental and animal welfare.