Prime Roots
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Prime Roots (also known as Terramino Foods)[1] is an American koji-based meat-producing company focusing on deli and charcuterie products.[2]
- Joshua Nixon
- Kimberlie Le
| Company type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Plant-based meat |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Founder |
|
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products |
|
| Website | www |
History
Prime Roots was founded in 2017 by Joshua Nixon and Kimberlie Le. It produces non-GMO meat alternatives, and meat-free alternative seafood products, from a protein-rich and nutrient-dense fungi.[3][4] It uses Aspergillus oryzae, or kōji mold, which has historically been used to ferment soy sauce, miso, sake and douchi. Kōji is also used as an imitation meat in haute cuisine.[5] The fungus is a whole protein,[6] with a filamentous structure that is texturally similar to muscle fiber.[7]
In December 2017, Terramino Foods (now known as Prime Roots)[1] closed their first seed funding round raising $250,000 in capital and raising $4.25 million in second seed funding in July 2018 from IndieBio and SOSV respectively.[8][9] In May 2023, it raised $30 million in series B funding to expand its operations US-wide.[10][11]
In June 2023, it announced a partnership with UK-based mycoprotein product manufacturer Quorn,[3] and in January 2024, Prime Roots was featured in You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment, a Netflix vegan documentary.[12]