Canada’s Chefs Plate Raises $6 Million to Expand Food Delivery Service
Chefs Plate today announced $6 million in new funding led by Acton Capital Partners. Existing investors Emil Capital and BrandProject also participated in the round.
The capital will be used to fund recruitment and market expansion across Canada, including a new fulfillment center in Western Canada, according to the company.
“With this new capital, the focus will be on supporting our rapid growth, including hiring top talent across all divisions,” said Jamie Shea, cofounder, Chefs Plate. “Our mission is to create meaningful connections through food. These funds allow us to offer more Canadians well- priced meal-kits with farm-to-table ingredients that are often fresher and less costly than the grocery aisle.”
Chefs Plate is experiencing rapid growth. The company says it will double its current workforce within the next 12 months, translating to over 100 new jobs in Toronto and Vancouver.
The investment will also expand direct relationships with Chefs Plate’s supply chain of Canadian growers, farmers and producers that allows for food to go directly from its network of artisan farmers and purveyors to customers’ kitchens within three days – or three times faster than grocery stores.”
“Chefs Plate is changing the way Canadians eat,” said Vancouver-based Acton venture partner Hannes Blum. “In just under two years Chefs Plate has grown to be the leader in the meal-kit delivery category in Canada. The company’s unique model makes it very well-positioned to grow quickly while preserving its value propositions of freshness, quality and convenience at a highly competitive price.”
In June 2016, the company announced delivery of 100,000 meal-kits monthly, a new family plan, and extension of delivery outside of Ontario to BC, Alberta and Manitoba. The Toronto-based start-up ships approximately 200,000 pounds of food comprised of fresh, Canadian-sourced produce, meats and seafoods.
The company was founded in 2014 and has grown to 125 employees.
