Member Highlight: Vegan Traveler, LLC
What is the name of your company?
Vegetarian Traveler, LLC, a Certified Woman Owned Business
When and why did you start your company?
We have been at this a long time! We stopped eating animals in the 70’s and learned as much as we could about plant-based sources for protein. We knew that going vegetarian (now vegan) meant finding new sources of protein, and not so much fats or carbs and certainly not veggies and fruits which everyone should always be eating! Eating away from home was the hardest time to get plant-based protein in any significant amounts – at restaurants, work, school and
social events like weddings and family gatherings, and especially while traveling; you get the idea! We imagined a food – a “meal topper” – that would provide a meal’s worth of high quality and complete protein, that was also portable and easy to use no matter where you were and no matter what you were eating. Importantly, we wanted this protein food to create an easier path for others, wherever they were on their own journey, helping them to make plant-based eating work in their lives. In 2017 Protein Toppers® were born!
Because snacking has become an integral part of the lives of more and more people, in 2020 we created Munchy Crunchy Protein® Snacks. Using whole food and simple ingredients to deliver uber-nutrition – 16g protein and 7g fiber, 4 net carbs and lower calories per serving – we have made an easy way for all people to get healthy, plant-based snacks that truly satisfies with great flavors and crunch.
In 3 sentences or less, can you tell us about the work your company is doing and why it is important?
We are committed to creating a path to help move society towards plant-based eating!
To support our mission, we have created foods with significant amounts of protein that are easy to eat and work for all people, anytime and anywhere.
What do you think others should be aware of with regards to the work your company is doing?
The Vegetarian Traveler approach is based on a belief that life is a journey fueled with compassion. We believe that a steady and thoughtful commitment to education and outreach are the best way to move society forward. Small steps in a better direction can, indeed, trigger a mighty sea change. As change agents, our education efforts revolve around nutritional health as well as societal health.
How have the current circumstances of the world changed your business plan?
Geez! Who knew in early 2020 that launching a cool new healthy snack product in March was not going to go as planned! With all buying shows, expos and in-person meetings cancelled for the whole year (plus!), we regrouped and found new ways to reach buyers and markets. It helped that the healthy quality of our products match up so well with the new drive to eat and be healthier!
- Retail: We jumped into the new world of large-group virtual sales meetings and virtual expos. These have been working out well for us, especially considering the high quality of our snacks.
- E-Comm: Although the online world was already growing quickly, the circumstances of 2020 accelerated this trend greatly. We have found increasing success online, both through our own website and several third-party online sellers (big, small and specialty).
- The food service channel, previously a perfect outlet for our highly nutritious and easy-to-use products, has taken a really big hit and is still working on how best to match up with today’s changed world.
Do you have any exciting news or launches occurring this year?
Considering that our intended launch of Munchy Crunchy Protein Snacks the first half of 2020 didn’t work out like we thought it would, we have worked hard to establish routes to store buyers and to consumers. Because we have one of the most nutritious 100% plant-based snacks available – so nutritious in fact that it doubles as a meal topper – we have garnered the support of large numbers of registered dietitians and nutritionists. This has allowed us to stand out among other snacks on third-party e-comm sites and in presentations to the many store buyers, all who are looking for healthy snacks. And we are ready with more exciting flavors already created and vetted. Chocolate Java anyone?
What is one thing you wish you knew as you began your work that you think is important for othersworking in this industry to know?
With our initial product line launch in 2017, despite the quality and appeal of the product to consumers, we learned that a new food category product launch must also fit into the existing distribution and merchandising structure. There weren’t any specific category buyers for “high protein meal toppers” to sell to, even though they agreed that their customers may love our products. Pivoting to our Munchy Crunchy Protein Snacks allowed us to keep the great nutrition profile and fit into the established and growing healthy snacking category.
Where can others find you online?
Website: www.MunchyCrunchyProtein.com
Social Media:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vegetarian_trvlr/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vegetariantrvlr/
Member Highlight: Clear Current Capital
What is the name of your company?
Clear Current Capital
When and why did you start your company?
Clear Current Capital was initially formed on 9/1/17, and it was started to help grow the plant-based food/cultured meat industry by attracting capital to early-stage companies that are well positioned to reinvent the food industry. We wanted to help validate the space through our impact focus without compromising on returns to our investors. We wanted to build a bridge for aligned investors who didn’t have access to this early-stage space.
In 3 sentences or less, can you tell us about the work your company is doing and why it is important?
We are an impact fund, working to prove that impact and returns are not mutually exclusive. Removing animals from the food system speaks deeply to me personally, and provides huge positive impact for the environment, human health, and for animal suffering. Eating plants instead of animals brings potential transparency to the food system’s supply chain and can clean up many work environments where future pandemics could be hatched from.
What do you think others should be aware of with regards to the work your company is doing?
Clear Current Capital is focused on supporting early-stage plant-based food/cultivated meat companies. As we grow our firm, we will look to broaden our focus, and our footprint, to increase our positive impact for the planet and its inhabitants.
How have the current circumstances of the world changed your business plan?
First, the pandemic has affected all of us…every person on this planet. As an impact fund manager, I see the impact mission of our fund being that much more important, and I have a fiduciary responsibility to our investors. Balancing the risks and opportunities is front and center now. My belief is that our mission focus sector will come out of this current state of affairs stronger, and that they have had the opportunity to sure up their foundation from which to grow from.
Do you have any exciting news or launches occurring this year?
Yes! We have just begun raising capital for our second fund. I’m excited for the Fund I portfolio that we’ve put together, and I couldn’t be more excited for the impact and opportunities that we will be able to achieve with Fund II in 2021.
What is one thing you wish you knew as you began your work that you think is important for others working in this industry to know?
That demand for capital from quality founders and core impact mission companies would be as great as it is. The momentum is strong and consumer demand continues to grow.
Where can others find you online?
Website: www.ClearCurrentCapital.com
Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/curt-albright-37694986/