Everything Legendary, a black-owned vegan burger company, has closed a $6 million Series A fundraising round and plans to expand into retail outlets across the country. 301 INC, General Mills’ venture capital arm, and Mark Cuban of the reality investment television show Shark Tank are among the brand’s investors. Russell Simmons, a vegan record executive, has also joined the team as a senior advisor. Everything Legendary also intends to release new products and expand its marketing efforts with the new funding.
Everything Legendary was founded in 2019 by Duane “Myko” Cheers, Danita Claytor, and Chef Jumoke Jackson. In early 2021, they were hand-making burgers in their own kitchen and sending them directly to clients. A proprietary blend of hemp protein, coconut oil, potato starch, and beet extract is used to make the trio’s vegan burgers. They moved from zero to 1,500 supermarket stores in just ten months, including Safeway, Acme, Giant, Target, Ralphs, Kings, and Balduccis, with more to come in Sprouts, Meijer, Publix, and other stores in the coming months.
“There are a lot of people trying to get into the $5 billion+ plant-based food market… What has our investors excited about us is they can see we aren’t just another plant-based product… we are looking to disrupt the multi-billion-dollar industry with unprecedented flavor, premium ingredients, and high-energy marketing that sets our brand apart. Having partners like CircleUp and General Mills, that work with some of the biggest brands in the world, is an amazing honor,” Cheers stated.
Vegan Burgers Available in 5,600 Stores
Everything Legendary has piqued the interest of investors in the past. Last year, the creators of Everything Legendary appeared on Shark Tank to pitch their vegan firm, and Mark Cuban offered them $300,000 in exchange for a 22 percent stake in the company. Everything Legendary sold $250,000 worth of veggie burgers within 24 hours of the episode airing.
The company claims that with the fresh $6 million investment, it will be better positioned to expand even quicker across the country, with a planned launch in 5,600 grocery shops by this summer. New sausages, boneless wings, and breakfast burgers will be introduced by Everything Legendary. They’ll also use street teams to help spread the word about their iconic burger in the same exciting, energizing way that the company’s founders have done thus far.
“We’re all about breaking through barriers… We’re a black-owned, grassroots business competing with large, well-established companies vying for the same customer. Just two years ago we were working out of a garage. We’re pretty proud of what we’ve achieved so far, and like my good friend Duane has said, we’re just getting started,” stated Vince Parker, Everything Legendary COO.
Source: “HOW THIS BLACK-OWNED VEGAN BURGER BRAND NEARLY QUADRUPLED ITS REACH IN ONE YEAR” by VegNews
