BOULDER, Colo. — Sunrise Strategic Partners ("Sunrise"), a Boulder, CO-based accelerator of emerging brands co-founded by Steve Hughes and Trilantic North America, today announced a minority investment in Vital Farms, the largest national provider of pasture-raised and ethically produced eggs. This is the seventh investment by Sunrise since it launched in 2016, and the fourth investment in grass-fed and humanely treated animal products.
"Vital Farms began pasture-raising eggs with a mission to bring ethical food to the table. We believe that raising healthy, happy birds outside on fresh pastures also produces the most nutritious and flavorful eggs," said Matt O'Hayer, Vital Farms Founder and CEO. "Sunrise will help us grow our operations and let more people enjoy our eggs. We share passion and experience and are excited to partner with Steve, his team and their like-minded mission-driven brands."
Vital Farms set the standard for the welfare of egg-laying hens with a more humane and ethical approach to farming with "pasture raising." Unlike cage-free hens that remain inside crowded industrial barns and free-range hens which may receive as little as two square feet of space, a Vital Farms pasture-raised hen has 108 square feet of unrestricted outdoor access, dramatically improving the environment for the hen and the quality of the egg. Vital Farms' approach to a holistic system of farming incorporates sustainable practices that improve environmental, economic and social ecosystems not only for farm animals, but for everyone involved.
Vital Farms offers Certified Humane® pasture-raised eggs that set the standard for taste and nutrition while also promoting the welfare of happy, healthy hens. Started in Austin, Texas, in 2007 with 20 hens, Vital Farms now partners with over 100 independent, family-owned farms in six states across the United States. It is the only national supplier of pasture-raised eggs in the country. Vital Farms eggs are sold in grocery stores nationwide. In 2012, Vital Farms was listed by Inc. magazine as the country's fastest growing food company. For more information on Vital Farms, please visit www.VitalFarms.com.
Source: Vital Farms