UK – Blue Stripes, a company specializing in food and beverages made from the entire cacao fruit, has successfully raised US$20 million in a Series B funding round.
The round was led by investors including Zintinus, The Hershey Company, and Whole Foods Market.
The funds will be used to further develop Blue Stripes’ whole cacao process technologies, create new products, expand distribution, and boost consumer awareness of the nutritional benefits of cacao fruit.
The company aims to promote a more sustainable and economically beneficial cacao supply chain by utilizing 70 percent of the cacao fruit that is typically discarded in traditional chocolate production.
This approach reduces waste and provides increased income for cacao farmers.
Founded in 2018 by Oded Brenner and Aviv Schwietzer, Blue Stripes is committed to creating an ecologically sustainable future for the chocolate industry.
Brenner, a long-time chocolatier, explained that the company’s mission goes beyond chocolate’s romantic allure to address the environmental and economic challenges of the cacao industry.
As part of its expansion, Blue Stripes has named celebrity chef Nick DiGiovanni as a brand ambassador. With over 33 million social media followers, DiGiovanni will help spread the word about the uses and health benefits of the cacao superfruit.
Blue Stripes’ product lineup includes a variety of offerings such as Cacao Water, Whole Cacao Chocolate Bars, Granola, Trail Mix, Chocolate-Covered Cacao Beans, and Dried Cacao Fruit.
The company’s focus on whole cacao aims to reshape the future of the chocolate industry through innovation and sustainability.
The funding comes when London cocoa futures climbed to a one-month high on October 15 boosted by falling exchange stocks and the prospect of another poor crop in number two grower Ghana.
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