It’s no secret that the plant-based meat category has faced some strong headwinds of late. But Somerville, Mass.-based startup Tender Food believes it has developed a lower-cost, more animal-like product that it says can disrupt the space and help right the ship for meat alternatives – and it’s brought on former Oatly president Mike Messersmith to lead the charge.
Messersmith, who left Oatly in February after seven years leading the oat milk brand’s North America business, joined Tender Food as a board member this spring before being appointed CEO about a month ago, taking over the role from co-founder Christophe Chantre.