Olympians Aly Raisman and Chris Paul See Gold in Meati Mushroom Meat Investment: “Our Values Align”

Meati Foods has quickly become a leading disruptor in the alternative protein sector since making its retail debut earlier this year with its line of mushroom-based cutlets and steaks. It earned support from MLB Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, chef Tom Colicchio, TV personality Rachael Ray, and the co-founders of Sweetgreen, Nicolas Jammet and Jonathan Neman.

Meati

Now, it’s adding two more investors from the sports world with NBA All-Star Chris Paul and Olympic gold medal gymnast Aly Raisman joining the team.  

Paul is renowned for his 19-year NBA career and status as a two-time Olympic gold medalist. He emphasizes the alignment of values in his investment decisions. “When I choose to invest in a company, I look at everything from the quality of the products to how our values align,” he said in a statement. “Meati and I share an understanding that building something great involves being willing to put in the work. We also agree that nutrition has to taste good and be good for you. This is an exciting time to invest and make a real impact with Meati, a company committed to whole food nutrition that tastes amazing.”

Chris Paul

Paul’s investment in Meati Foods is consistent with his commitment to a plant-based lifestyle, driven by his focus on maintaining peak performance. A best-selling author and founder of The Chris Paul Family Foundation, Paul’s investment portfolio includes plant-based companies Beyond Meat and Wicked Kitchen.

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Raisman, known for her leadership as the two-time team captain of the US women’s gymnastics teams and her advocacy in the sexual abuse prevention movement, highlights the importance of nutrition in overall wellness.

“Eating healthy has been a huge focus and priority for me,” Raisman said. “Over the years, I have realized how much better I feel, mentally and physically, when I eat whole foods. When I was introduced to Meati Foods, I was so impressed with their MushroomRoot, how nutritious their products are, and how few ingredients they use. I am so excited to be a Meati investor and partner, and I look forward to supporting and sharing their mission.”

Scott Tassani, president and COO of Meati Foods, expressed enthusiasm about the athletes’ involvement. “World-class athletes like Chris and Aly choosing to invest in our company reinforces that we are introducing a powerful, new whole-food staple worthy of fueling everyone, including those most discriminating about what they eat,” he said. “After an exciting 2023, we are preparing for an even bigger 2024, and the insights Aly and Chris have to share will be invaluable as we continue to scale.”

Since its retail launch in early 2023, Meati Foods has expanded its presence to more than 3,000 stores nationwide, including Super Target and Albertsons. The company plans to double its store count by the first quarter of 2024, and it will be adding four new products, including Crispy Bites and Spicy Crispy Cutlet, by mid-year.