Thistle raises $10.3m in Series B funding round

San Francisco-based meal delivery service, Thistle, has raised $10.3 million during a Series B funding round led by PowerPlant Ventures. 

PowerPlant, which also led Thistle’s Series A funding round in January 2020, was joined by Siddhi Capital, Alumni Ventures Group and Rich Products Corporation’s venture arm.

With the investment, the tech-enabled food and nutrition brand – which offers fully-prepared, plant-forward meals direct to consumers –  aims to expand its market location and customer base in 2021. 

“Given rapidly shifting consumer preferences and factors like time or money that impact what foods we eat, Thistle is focused on expanding its operations to become the go-to meal solution that is better for you and for the planet. As always, we’ll never sacrifice taste, convenience, or quality,” said Ashwin Cheryian, co-founder and CEO of Thistle.

“The pandemic has revealed many challenges within the food system and increased awareness of the paramount role that diet plays in an individual’s health. We’re dedicated to making our products accessible to customers, empowering them to take their personal health by the reins and enjoy the ride, one bite at a time.”

Cheryian continued: “With this funding, we’ll be able to support even more people through scientific, evidence-based principles of nutrition that lead to optimal wellness, enjoyable eating and a healthier planet”.

The funding will also be used to develop new customer offerings, including a complimentary virtual consultation with Thistle’s in-house registered dietician to offer guidance to consumers on how best to achieve their wellness goals. 

“Eating a plant-forward diet is the single most impactful way to reduce your overall environmental footprint, reducing climate change, pollution, resource consumption and species extinction,” said Dan Gluck, managing partner of PowerPlant Ventures.

“Consumer demand for plant-based foods is outperforming total food growth today, and this trend is expected to increase over the next decade as more people realise that eating more plants is a critical component to the long-term health of both the planet and our population.”

“We are thrilled to have led this round of funding for Thistle, a company whose mission we fundamentally believe in and know can make the world a better place one meal at a time,” Gluck added.