Leonardo DiCaprio Invests in Vegan Chickpea Brand

Award-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio and investment firm Strand Equity Partners invested an undisclosed amount for a minority stake in vegan snack company HIPPEAS this week. “I’m truly excited that Strand Equity Partners and [DiCaprio] have joined the HIPPEAS family,” HIPPEAS CEO Livio Bisterzo said. “As the brand continues to grow with such momentum in the marketplace, it’s incredible to bring on board partners who align with our vision and values as a company.” HIPPEAS makes vegan chickpea-based puff snacks in flavors such as Vegan White Cheddar, Sriracha Sunshine, and Far Out Fajita, which are available at 20,000 stores nationwide, including Starbucks. DiCaprio’s investment in chickpea-based products is a smart move, as a new report compiled by research firm Packaged Facts revealed that sales of chickpea snacks increased by 150 percent in 2016.