Greek yogurt producer Chobani LLC, Norwich, N.Y., announced the members of its spring 2018 Chobani Incubator class. The third and largest Chobani Incubator class to date, with nine food startups, comprises companies that are disrupting and improving high-potential U.S. food categories, the company said.
The lineup includes:
- 88 Acres, Allston, Mass., which crafts nutritious snacks and seed butters made with simple ingredients.
- Fresh Bellies, White Plains, N.Y., producers of a line of organic baby food that “doesn't mask vegetables with fruit and uses herbs and spices to train baby palates from the very first bite.”
- Los Angeles-based Masienda, a clean-label tortilla producer with an impact-based supply chain that supports more than 2,000 smallholder farmers throughout Mexico with corn grown using regenerative practices .
- NOKA, Pacific Palisades, Calif., which makes superfood smoothie packs that deliver balanced nutrition and natural flavor from organic whole fruits and veggies.
- Oakland, Calif.-based Nona Lim, which offers “innovative and delicious products” such as Asian-inspired soups, noodles and broths with no additives or preservatives.
- Puffworks, Portland, Ore., which makes organic peanut butter puffs using simple ingredients.
- Englewood Cliffs, N.J.-based Remedy Organics, producers of “a delicious line of plant-based beverages with purposeful function resulting from the use of highly potent superfoods, ayurvedic herbs and botanicals, as well as protein and probiotics.”
- teaRIOT, Venice, Calif., which makes fresh tea blends that are “a mash-up of focused energy from tea and nutrient wellness in one bottle.”
- Wildway, San Antonio, a better-for-you breakfast and snack food company that features lines of grain-free granola, grain-free hot cereal and smoothie bowl starter mixes.
"The past few years have proven the need, value and strong desire for a food incubator that is solely focused on supporting entrepreneurs who want to challenge the food industry, improve broken systems and bring better food to all people," said Chobani Incubator Director Jackie Miller. "Through this program, we've seen companies double their distribution, expand their teams and launch new products—and we're just getting started. Hamdi, our founder, hand-picked this class—our largest yet—for their unique ability to transform traditional product categories in the United States, and we couldn't be more excited to get started with them."
The Chobani Incubator program helps entrepreneurs with “big hearts and ideas” break into food and beverage industries through equity-free investment and a strong focus on mentorship, Chobani said. The first class realized a more than 250% increase in distribution and significant growth in annual revenue. The program had more than 650 applications for the nine spots in this year's class – a 30% increase from last year.
The third Chobani Incubator class will run from April 2018 to July 2018, based out of a dedicated space designed at Chobani's sales and marketing offices in New York City. For more information and updates from each of the participants, visit chobaniincubator.com.
