Tessemae’s Announces $5M Investment
For Immediate Release:
Ryan McKenna (415) 238-8624
Baltimore, MD – Tessemae’s All Natural, the fastest growing condiment company in the U.S., is pleased to announce a $5M investment led by Sagamore Ventures, LLC, the venture capital arm of Plank Industries. This financing round, which also includes a significant investment by Baltimore-based War Horse, will allow Tessemae’s to further scale their national footprint and open additional channels of business. The investors see this as a next step towards enhancing Baltimore City’s position as a hub for innovative young companies.
Tessemae’s salad dressings and condiments are the healthiest on the market, and are the only products of their kind to exclude unhealthy thickening agents as well as GMO ingredients, sugar, dairy, and gluten. In addition, Tessemae’s is the only manufacturer in the category to incorporate 100% olive oil and to satisfy the requirements of the vegan, paleo, and whole30 diets.
Tessemae’s mission is about getting people to understand the importance of eating real food. Greg Vetter, CEO of Tessemae’s All Natural, explains, “Obesity continues to rise, kids’ test scores are down, food deserts are growing, healthcare costs are skyrocketing, but yet, we continue to inexplicably minimize the most basic of daily decisions... what am I going to eat today?”
The emphasis on wellness is a good fit for the investors. Sagamore Ventures is owned by Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank. War Horse is owned by Kevin’s brother and former senior Under Armour executive Scott Plank. War Horse is committed to wellness through slow food, local food markets, a whole animal butchery, and slow food restaurants in Baltimore and San Francisco.
Demian Costa, a Partner at Plank Industries and Managing Partner of Sagamore Ventures, said “consumers today are increasingly educated about the products they consume and demand absolute transparency in these products and their ingredients. Tessemae’s uncompromising position on all- natural ingredients gives them a perfect opportunity to capture this growing market.”
The Vetter brothers and the rest of the Tessemae’s executive team look forward to continued growth of their company and are proud to call Baltimore and Maryland home.
***
About Tessemae’s All Natural
Tessemae’s All Natural is a craft condiment company that makes salad dressing and condiments with real, whole, source food ingredients. The Vetter brothers, Greg, Brian, and Matt, launched the brand in 2009 at their local Whole Foods in Annapolis, Maryland, using a simple recipe created and used by their mom throughout their childhood. Tessemae’s commitment to healthy eating and living is the core of their mission, to provide simple, yet delicious food to consumers made with real ingredients. Available in Whole Foods, Kroger, Safeway, The Fresh Market, and Costco retailers across the country, Tessemae’s products are breaking grocery distribution models, creating a new category in salad dressings and raising consumer awareness on the importance of consuming real, clean ingredients. For more information please visit www.tessemaes.com.
About Sagamore Ventures
Sagamore Ventures, LLC is the early-stage investment arm of Plank Industries, the private holding company of Kevin Plank, Founder and CEO of Under Armour, Inc.
About War Horse
War Horse is committed to building exciting, economically and environmentally sustainable urban environments with a focus on neighborhood activation, real estate development and community based philanthropic initiatives. Former Under Armour executive Scott Plank is the company’s founder and CEO.