The demand for protein doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon. Or at least that’s what investors are betting on. Yesterday, WILDE announced that it had secured a $40 million investment from S2G Investments.
Founded in 2015, WILDE is a snack brand that manufactures grain-free, high-protein chips using a base of 100% all-natural chicken breast, egg whites, and bone broth rather than potatoes. Formulated to mimic the texture of traditional potato crisps, the products provide a low-carbohydrate, keto- and paleo-friendly alternative targeting health-conscious consumers.
WILDE reported that it recently eclipsed $100 million in sales and can now be found in over 35,000 stores across the United States.
“Building WILDE has never been easy. We started this company to prove that protein snacks don’t have to taste like punishment, and we’ve spent years betting on an idea that didn’t fit neatly into the snack aisle,” said Jason Wright, Founder and CEO of WILDE.
He continued, “We stuck with it, built something people crave, and this investment proves that hard work and conviction pay off. Now we have the firepower to go bigger, move faster, and shake up a whole lot more of the snack aisle.”
S2G Investments focuses on venture capital, growth-stage equity across food and agriculture, energy and oceans sectors. Its investment in WILDE will be used to scall production and bring new products to market.
“WILDE has shown you can have better products with high quality ingredients without sacrificing the taste experience that makes people love salty snacks,” said Arthur Chow, Principal, Food & Agriculture at S2G. “Jason created a standout product with Protein Chips, but what excites us most is the opportunity ahead as a snacking platform. Protein Crackers is among my favorite CPG innovations ever. We’re excited to partner with Jason and the team as WILDE scales into a household brand.”
The recent surge in demand for high-protein foods has been driven by an emphasis on the need to prevent weight loss in those taking GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy.
Combining that with “Proteinmaxxing” becoming mainstream, the idea of consuming more protein has spread beyond the bodybuilding and athletic realms. Research is now showing that over 60% of consumers are actively looking for ways to increase their daily protein intake.
Investment firms like S2G are betting that WILDE is one of those options.
