AMSTERDAM & NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–LIVEKINDLY Collective, a collection of heritage and scale-up brands on track to become one of the world’s largest plant-based food companies, today announced an agreement to acquire The Dutch Weed Burger, an Amsterdam-based, iconic brand that uses seaweed as its hero ingredient.
By adding The Dutch Weed Burger to LIVEKINDLY Collective, the company expands its plant-based portfolio with seaweed, a high-quality source of protein cultivated using minimal fresh water and no agricultural land. Additionally, this proposed acquisition will help the company scale internationally in the UK and Nordics, two key markets in Europe, as well as in the U.S. and Canadian markets, and eventually into Asia.
“Innovation in plant-based protein has created a tremendous opportunity to transform the global food system, as consumers increasingly demand tasty and nutritious alternatives to meat,” said Kees Kruythoff, CEO and Chairman of LIVEKINDLY Collective. “With the addition of The Dutch Weed Burger, we expand the types of plant-based protein we can offer our consumers in more than 40 countries and accelerate our mission to make plant-based living the new norm.”
“We are so excited to join these driven, experienced and passionate leaders who are going to help scale our brand and change the food culture around the globe,” said Mark Kulsdom, CEO and Founder of The Dutch Weed Burger.
He added: “Seaweed farming is highly sustainable because it grows profusely in the ocean and it breathes out oxygen while it grows. The plant is nutrient-rich and healthy while bringing a unique umami flavor to people’s taste buds. These ocean greens mix perfectly with protein-rich beans and other innovative textures we use. I am looking forward to working within the Collective, because the time for real change is imminent and more urgent than ever!”
LIVEKINDLY Collective brings together founders, entrepreneurs and global business leaders to create a robust ecosystem of plant-based brands, including Oumph!, The Fry Family Food Co., LikeMeat, No Meat and LIVEKINDLY, a digital media platform. The company recently closed a growth funding round, bringing the total of funding received in its first 12 months to $535 million and making LIVEKINDLY Collective one of the top three highest-funded and fastest-growing plant-based food companies globally.