Leonardo DiCaprio invests in meat alternative brand Beyond Meat
Leonardo DiCaprio is already well-known as a longtime advocate for a plant-based future, often bringing public awareness to the negative effects eating meat has on climate change. Just recently, DiCaprio increased his investments in the plant-based industry. According to an article in Fortune magazine, DiCaprio has eagerly agreed to become a primary investor in the very popular meat-substitute company Beyond Meat.
Beyond Meat is a plant-based alternative brand that produces products that look, smell, and taste just like one would expect with real meat. This has earned the company a reputation as one of the best, perhaps the best, meat-alternative brands in the plant-based industry. The most recent addition to their meat-alternative family is the popular Beyond Burger, a plant-based burger patty that boasts having more protein than a beef patty. The product is so realistic that it even bleeds red when cooked, much like a slab of meat would. DiCaprio isn’t the only celebrity backing the brand, however. Beyond Meat is currently backed by the likes of Bill Gates, Biz Stone, Evan Williams, Tyson Foods, and others. It is a well-respected name in the plant-based industry and, as the Beyond Meat company says, “the future of protein.”
DiCaprio has been one of the biggest heavy-hitters for environmental protection for a very long time. He is passionate about spreading the knowledge of just what the meat industry contributes toward climate change, and he continues to move the plant-based industry forward. With Beyond Meat quickly disrupting the industry, it only makes sense that DiCaprio is right there in the middle of the action.
DiCaprio-backed brand HIPPEAS© launches cheesy chickpea puffs
The vegan snack brand HIPPEAS has been gaining popularity amongst vegans and non-vegans alike. Recently, the brand also added two new flavors to their chickpea-based snacks: Nacho Vibes, which is made with vegan cheese, and Himalayan Happiness, a lightly salted alternative. The flavor of the snacks is comparable to other large consumer brands such as Cheetos and Lay’s, but carries the added value of being organic and plant-based. The brand’s CEO Joseph Serventi says, “Nacho Vibes is definitely a ‘nacho’ average cheese puff — this snack rivals the mainstream versions but is made with ingredients that today’s consumer really wants: organic, gluten-free, and plant-based.”
In mid-2017, DiCaprio made a substantial investment (amount undisclosed) in exchange for a minority stake in HIPPEAS. Since DiCaprio’s investment, the brand has raised $10 million in capital funding. These funds are being used to expand the snack brand’s influence and market share, including the addition of the new flavors. The Nacho Vibes and Himalayan Happiness flavors are now sold, along with pre-existing flavors such as Vegan White Cheddar and Sriracha Sunshine, at nationwide retailers including Whole Foods Market, Walmart, Target, and Costco.
