Sundial Foods raises $4m seed funding round

US plant-based meat company Sundial Foods has raised $4 million in a seed funding round for its whole-cut vegan chicken wings.

The Californian firm will use the funding to expand its team and initiate production at the Rutgers Food Innovation Center in Bridgeton, New Jersey. The seed funding round included participation from Nestlé, Food Labs, Clear Current Capital, SOSV/IndieBio and others.

According to Sundial, its chicken wings contain more fibre, less saturated fat and around the amount of protein as chicken.

Sundial is using proprietary technology to make vegan meats that contain no artificial flavours or synthetic chemicals. The company’s technology enables the simulation of whole-cut products that mimic the taste and texture of traditional meat. 

“Our goal is to make meats that replace the butcher, so our product can be enjoyed as a centre-of-plate experience,” said Sundial’s co-founder, Jessica Schwabach. “We want to give consumers – whether vegetarian, vegan, flexitarian or meat-eating – a plant-based meat-eating experience that’s interesting, craveable and versatile.”

Sundial’s vegan chicken wings are expected to be released in the US in spring 2022.