NEWS IN BRIEF
ReGrained closes $2.5m financing round to commercially scale its upcycled ‘super grain’
ReGrained’s mission is to fight mounting global food waste by capturing and upcycling millions of tons of high-protein, high-fiber spent grain generated by the brewing industry at its “ReGrainery” facility in the San Francisco Bay Area.
ReGrained rescues the grain created during the beer brewing process which strips the grain of its sugar leaving behind protein, fiber, and micronutrients, and then upcycles it into SuperGrain+ flour using the company’s patent-pending technology.
The USDA estimated that 30% to 40% of the US food supply went to waste, corresponding to 133 billion pounds and $161bn worth of food in 2010. The USDA and the EPA launched a partnership to reduce US food waste by 50% by 2030.
The investment will go towards scaling and commercializing its ingredient business setting the stage for global expansion and availability of the company’s SuperGrain+, an upcycled prebiotic fiber available in ingredient and finished product
formats.
The recent financing comes after the launch of the startup’s first consumer product line, SuperGrain+ bars packaged in compostable packaging available at California retailers including Sprouts and Gelson's Market as well in the Midwest at Fresh Thyme and Hy-Vee stores.
"Our purpose is to better align the food we eat with the planet we love. Our ‘edible upcycling’ model changes the way we value food and the resources that support all life," Daniel Kurzrock, ReGrained CEO, said.
“We could not ask for a more mission-aligned partner that directly supports our strategic goals than Griffith Foods.”
Founded in Chicago in 1919 and currently headquartered in Alsip, Illinois, Griffith Foods has a global presence in more than 30 countries and across six continents serving food service customers, retailers, and distributors with its range of seasonings, sauces, breadings, and food safety solutions.
"The world's population is estimated to reach almost ten billion by 2050. It is imperative for food companies to create innovative solutions that safely and sustainably feed our growing communities," Brian Griffith, executive chairman of Griffith Foods, said.
