FoodTech Startup Secures Retail Distribution for Plant-Based Products
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – November 26, 2025 – Veridia Foods, a FoodTech company specializing in mycelium-based protein products, announced today a landmark retail distribution agreement with Kroger Co. that will place its plant-based meat alternatives in 2,500 stores nationwide by February 2026. The expansion marks a critical inflection point for the three-year-old startup, which has demonstrated 340% year-over-year revenue growth through its direct-to-consumer and regional retail channels.
The Kroger partnership will introduce Veridia’s flagship product line—including plant-based chicken cutlets, ground beef alternatives, and sausage varieties—to shoppers across 35 states, positioning the brand in both conventional meat departments and dedicated plant-based sections. Initial product rollout will target high-density urban markets including Atlanta, Dallas, Seattle, and Chicago, where pilot programs showed repeat purchase rates exceeding 68% within 90 days. The company projects first-year retail revenue of $45 million from this channel alone, representing 65% of its 2026 forecast.
The timing aligns with resilient consumer demand despite recent market volatility. According to research from The Good Food Institute, 59% of U.S. households purchased plant-based foods in 2024, with repeat purchase rates holding steady at nearly 80% among engaged buyers. While the plant-based meat category faced headwinds, with dollar sales declining 12% in 2024, industry analysts attribute the slowdown primarily to price premiums averaging 82% above conventional meat rather than fundamental demand erosion. Veridia’s vertically integrated production model, leveraging proprietary fermentation technology, enables retail pricing within 15% of conventional meat products—a strategic advantage the company believes will accelerate category conversion.
“This isn’t about replacing meat for vegans. It’s about giving mainstream consumers a protein option that checks every box: taste, nutrition, price, and planetary impact,” said Veridia Foods CEO Dr. James Park, a former biomedical engineer who co-founded the company in 2022. “Our whole-cut mycelium technology delivers the fibrous texture and umami depth consumers expect, without the steep price premium that has limited plant-based adoption. Kroger saw the data from our Pacific Northwest pilot and recognized we’re solving the equation other brands haven’t cracked.”
Market fundamentals support aggressive retail expansion. Precedence Research data indicates the global plant-based food market reached $50.70 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow at an 8.29% compound annual rate through 2034, reaching $103.75 billion. Plant-based protein powders and liquids emerged as the fastest-growing subcategory in 2024, up 12% in dollar sales, while plant-based milk maintained a 14% share of total milk dollar sales despite category-wide pressures. The emerging mycelium protein segment, while nascent, attracted $450 million in venture funding during 2024, signaling investor confidence in next-generation fermentation technologies.
Veridia’s production facility in Emeryville, California, currently operates at 60% capacity, producing approximately 10,000 tons of mycelium biomass annually. The company plans to double output by Q3 2026 through a $30 million facility expansion funded by its Series B round closed last month. Unlike extruded pea or soy proteins, Veridia’s biomass fermentation process cultivates mycelium in controlled conditions to naturally form meat-like fiber structures, eliminating the need for energy-intensive texturization and reducing water usage by 92% compared to conventional beef production.
The Kroger agreement includes promotional support through end-cap displays, digital couponing, and in-store sampling events coordinated with the retailer’s health and wellness initiatives. Veridia will also partner with Kroger’s culinary team to develop exclusive seasoned varieties for regional preferences, including a spicy chorizo slated for Southwest markets and a maple breakfast sausage for Northeast locations.
About Veridia Foods
Founded in 2022, Veridia Foods develops whole-cut meat alternatives using proprietary mycelium fermentation technology. The company’s clean-label products contain no soy, gluten, or genetically modified organisms, delivering 17 grams of complete protein per serving with zero cholesterol. Veridia has raised $78 million in venture capital from firms including Radicle Impact, S2G Ventures, and Breakthrough Energy Ventures. Its mission is to decarbonize protein production while meeting consumer expectations for taste, nutrition, and affordability.
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