Kite Hill develops almond milk yogurts, Greek yogurts, cream cheese, ricotta, pastas, dips and kids tubes as nut-based alternatives to dairy. The company was co-founded by Patrick Brown, Monte Casino and chef Tal Ronnen and is about nine years old. Its products are sold at retailers including Safeway, Whole Foods and Amazon. Investors have backed the business in multiple financings, and a recent SEC filing indicates additional capital is being raised. The broader plant-based dairy and cheese markets have seen strong growth (plant-based cheese sales rose 41% through August 2018; plant-based milk beverages rose 9% year ending June 2018), which underpins Kite Hill’s category opportunity. Kite Hill competes with other well-funded non-dairy brands like Califia Farms and Ripple Foods and faces strategic pressure and potential partnership opportunities from large food companies expanding their plant-based portfolios. Kite Hill is a producer of chef-inspired plant-based alternatives to traditional dairy products, offering Greek and European style yogurts, cream cheese-style spreads, soft cheeses and ravioli. Its products are sold at thousands of retailers nationwide, including Whole Foods Market, Sprouts, Kroger, Target and Publix. The company reports year-over-year growth driven by product quality and rising consumer adoption of plant-based diets. Management plans to use new capital to expand factory capacity and increase production to meet demand. Kite Hill also intends to invest in marketing, product innovation and hiring to fuel continued expansion. Leadership quotes emphasize sustaining rapid expansion and continuing product development to broaden consumer adoption. Kite Hill is a Hayward, Calif.-based company producing plant-based dairy alternatives including artisanal almond-milk cheeses, yogurts, cream cheese-style spreads and fresh ravioli. The company combines patented biochemistry with traditional cheese- and dairy-making techniques to create cultured nut milks using non-GMO almonds sourced from California’s San Joaquin Valley. Its full product line is sold nationwide through Whole Foods Markets. Kite Hill plans to use proceeds from the funding round to expand distribution and increase consumer awareness of the brand and product lines. CEO Matthew Sade and the investors emphasized the company’s focus on great taste, scientific approach and healthier nutritional profiles as drivers for growth.

Total raised

$73M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Sep 2019