The team at plant-based food maker CHKN Not Chicken are starting out 2022 strong with a major retailer.
The company, which launched last fall, now has products available in more than 370 Sprouts Farmers Market stores across the country. Locally, they should be available this month in New Seasons Markets as well. This is in addition to its first retail partner Green Zebra, which has been carrying CHKN Not Chicken at all three of its Portland locations.
“We think we are on track to be in 500 (stores) by the end of February,” said co-founder and CEO Brian Pope.
Chkn Not Chicken is making a plant protein-based replacement for chicken. The company uses yellow peas for the protein so its product is also soy and gluten-free. The company is based in Portland and it works with a contract manufacturer outside of Sacramento, California, to make its product.
The company has four flavor profiles of its product: Asian, Mexican and plain, plus a BBQ flavor that is exclusive to Sprouts.
The Sprouts deal is the largest retail partnership for the young company. It came about through direct contact between the company and the grocer, said Pope. Both Pope and the company's head of sales have worked with Sprouts in the past at previous food and beverage brands.
“They know how to help a new brand connect with consumers and know how to help grow early-stage brands,” he said, adding that CHKN Not Chicken is part of a “speed to shelf” program that the retailer has to help brands get into stores during “off cycles.”
“They leaned into us,” he said.
So far, Pope and the brand have had positive reaction from retailers. Stores are trying to build out selection in plant-based proteins and CHKN Not Chicken has the added benefit of also being soy- and gluten-free.
“One thing we heard from retailers is they are looking for soy-free options. There is not as much innovation around soy-free and gluten-free options,” he said.
The team at CHKN Not Chicken is still small at just six people, but it is growing. Pope is hiring for positions in marketing, finance and operations.
Last fall, the company raised $4.5 million from investors. Pope is in the process of bringing on a few more investors who are high-profile influencers in the market to build more brand awareness.
