vegan footballer chris smalling helps british plant-based meat brand raise $4.6 million

original: https://vegnews.com/2020/8/vegan-soccer-player-chris-smalling-helps-uk-plant-based-meat-brand-raise-4-6-million

note: the translation is for reference.

VEGAN SOCCER PLAYER CHRIS SMALLING HELPS UK PLANT-BASED MEAT BRAND RAISE $4.6 MILLION

vegan footballer chris smalling helps british plant-based meat brand raise $4.6 million

Plant-based brand THIS—maker of vegan bacon and chicken—will use the funding to launch 10 new products every year for the next three years.

plant meat brand company THIS（“ this”) is a vegan bacon and chicken maker that will use the funding of this round to launch 10 new products each year over the next three years.

by ANNA STAROSTINETSKAYA

author: ANNA STAROSTINETSKAYA

AUGUST 12, 2020

2020august 12, 2019

This week, United Kingdom-based vegan brand THIS launched a campaign on crowdfunding platform Seedrs and has already raised ￡3.5 million ($4.6 million), with ￡2 million ($2.6 million) secured before the campaign went public. Investors include professional soccer star Chris Smalling—who plays for popular team Manchester United—along with a host of venture capital firms such as Backed VC, Five Seasons Ventures, Idinvest Partners.

vegan brands headquartered in the uk THIS on the crowdfunding platform this week Seedrs the crowdfunding campaign has been launched, and has raised £3.5 million (us$4.6 million) so far, of which £2 million (us$2.6 million) was obtained before the event was released. investors in this round of financing include manchester united for popular football teams ( Manchester United） professional football star chris smalling ( Chris Smalling）， as well as Backed VC、Five Seasons Ventures、Idinvest Partners and many other venture capital companies.

Founded by restaurateurs Andy Shovel and Pete Sharman, the company creates realistic vegan versions of bacon and chicken from soy and pea protein, which are now available in more than 2,000 stores and restaurants across the UK. Since its launch in June 2019, THIS has sold more than 5 million units of its plant-based meat products.

THIS the company is composed of two restaurant owners, andy shovel ( Andy Shovel） and pete shaman ( Pete Sharman） co-founded, using soy and pea protein to create realistic vegan versions of bacon and chicken products, has now been launched in more than 2,000 stores and restaurants across the uk. since its official establishment in june 2019, THIS the company's sales of plant meat products have exceeded 5 million copies.

“THIS is capitalizing on the most important trend in nutrition: strong demand for tasty plant-based meat alternatives, for all those who are increasingly conscious about the detrimental health, climate change, and animal welfare impacts of mass meat production,” Andre de Haes, founder of Backed VC, said. “This macro trend alone doesn’t explain THIS’s success; it is unprecedented to see a startup food product achieve widespread supermarket distribution right after launching. The team at THIS blend executional hyper-efficiency with both ground-breaking research and development and innovative marketing. THIS’s achievement as the fastest campaign in Seedrs history for a round above ￡1.5 million is well deserved.”

“people are increasingly paying attention to the harmful effects of large-scale meat production on human health, climate change and animal welfare. THIS the company is taking advantage of this most important trend in food nutrition: strong demand for delicious plant-based meat alternatives (of consumers across the board)," Backed VC the founder of the company andre de hayes ( Andre de Haes） said. "just looking at this trend is not explained THIS the success of the company; (the company) the newly-created food products achieved a large number of supermarket distribution results immediately after their launch, which is unprecedented. THIS the company team closely combines ultra-high efficiency execution capabilities with pioneering r&d and innovative marketing. exist Seedrs the fastest crowdfunding campaign in history has been launched to raise more than £1.5 million. THIS the company has deserved such results. ”

With the new capital, THIS plans to continue its aggressive expansion with a launch planned in two additional major supermarkets later this year. The team is also investing ￡1 million ($1.3 million) in new product development with the aim of launching 10 new vegan meats per year for the next three years. “Pete and I can scarcely believe how quickly the Seedrs campaign has been building momentum. I haven’t clicked ‘refresh’ this often since my online dating days,” Shovel said. “We’re truly honored that so many people have deemed THIS to be worthy of their investment; we’ll keep over-working and aging abnormally fast, in the hope that we make them a massive return.”

with the newly acquired capital, THIS the company plans to continue its massive expansion, preparing to launch its products to two other large supermarkets later this year. the company's team will also invest £1 million (us$1.3 million) in new product development, intending to launch 10 new vegan meat products each year over the next three years. "peter and i can hardly believe this time Seedrs how fast is the crowdfunding event going all the way. since i used to make friends online, i haven't clicked 'refresh' as ​​often as i do now, (to see the latest page content)" shovel said. "so many people think THIS we are really honored that companies deserve their investment; even if we have been overworking and aging unusually fast, we want them to get huge returns. ” (note: as of the time of publication of this translation, THIS the company's crowdfunding financing amount has climbed to nearly £4.5 million. )

In 2018, Smalling was inspired to adopt the vegan lifestyle by his wife Sam Smalling, who has been vegan herself for several years. He has since credited his veganism for keeping him injury-free and is excited to support THIS. “I’ve been really impressed with what Andy & Pete have achieved in such a short time. They’ve created a killer brand with amazing products,” Smalling said. “[I am] thrilled to be part of their journey.”

smalling's wife, sam smalling ( Sam Smalling） a vegan for many years, she encouraged her husband to adopt a vegan lifestyle in 2018. smalling later attributed himself to his vegan lifestyle no longer (due to exercise) injury, and now he is happy to support it. THIS company. "i'm really touched what andy and pitt have achieved in such a short time. they created a 'killer brand' with great products," smalling said. “ [i ]very excited to be a part of their company's development history. ”