Grounded Foods Co.

What Grounded Foods Co. does

Grounded Foods Co. is a plant-based food company that produces dairy-free cheese alternatives using a proprietary fermentation process built around cauliflower and hemp seed. Founded in Melbourne, Australia by Veronica Fil and award-winning chef Shaun Quade, the company relocated to Los Angeles and now manufactures in California using locally-sourced, upcycled ingredients. Its five-SKU portfolio spans cheese-free cheese sauces (American Style and Jalapeño), hemp seed cream cheeses (Original and Onion & Chives), and marinated hemp seed goat cheese, all positioned as nut-free, soy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, and keto-compatible.

The business operates a Shopify-powered direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront at unit price points of $5.99-$6.99 per 8oz container, supplemented by retail distribution through a store locator and a wholesale channel accessed via email and a RangeMe profile. Target customers span horizontal consumer segments: vegans and plant-based dieters, keto and low-carb consumers, individuals with nut, soy, or gluten allergies, and sustainability-oriented buyers. Marketing is concentrated on Instagram, TikTok, a recipe blog, and an email newsletter, with sustainability credentials (Upcycled Food Association membership, hemp's lower water and land footprint) forming a core narrative.

The company has raised approximately $4.44 million across three funding rounds from 2019 through 2021, with the $2.5 million pre-Series A in October 2021 supporting US and international retail expansion. Investors include Big Idea Ventures, Stray Dog Capital, Kale United, Nucleus Capital, Presight Capital, Route 66 Ventures, Glass Wall Syndicate, and Rocana Venture Partners. Operations remain small at 1-10 employees, with no public revenue disclosure or post-2021 funding rounds in the available record.

Name

Grounded Foods Co.

Legal name

Grounded Foods Co.

Website

https://groundedfoods.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Grounded Foods Co. is a Los Angeles-based plant-based food company that produces dairy-free cheese alternatives from cauliflower and hemp seed using a proprietary fermentation process, selling a five-SKU line via DTC e-commerce and wholesale to health-conscious, vegan, allergen-sensitive, and sustainability-focused consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plant-based dairy alternatives

NAICS

Cheese Manufacturing (311513)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFAHAJAC

Plant-Based Cheese Analogues Processing (Slices, Shreds, Blocks, Meltables)

Agriculture & Food Production/Dairy Processing/Dairy Alternatives Processing (Plant-Based “Milk”, Yogurt & Cheese Analogues)

SECONDARYCRADAAAH

Plant-Based & Alternative Proteins (Packaged)

Consumer Products & Retail/Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Manufacturing & Brands/Food & Beverage (Packaged)

SECONDARYCRADACAF

Dairy Alternatives (Plant-Based Milk, Yogurt, Creamers)

Consumer Products & Retail/Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Manufacturing & Brands/Dairy & Refrigerated Foods

SECONDARYAFAJAJAG

Plant-Based & Alternative Dairy Cultures (Vegan Yogurt/Cheese, Fermented Plant Beverages)

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Ingredients & Additives/Cultures & Fermentation Ingredients (Starter Cultures, Probiotics, Yeast)

Keywords

• Plant-based cheese
• Vegan cheese alternatives
• Hemp seed foods
• Fermented dairy substitutes
• Cauliflower cheese products

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Products sold directly to consumers through the company's Shopify-powered e-commerce website with online ordering and shipping
2. Wholesale Distribution: Products sold to retailers and wholesalers for resale; company mentions wholesale availability via email contact and RangeMe profile

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Grounded Foods Co. manufactures and sells plant-based cheese alternatives produced through a proprietary fermentation process using cauliflower and hemp seed as the primary inputs. The company offers five SKUs across squeezy cheese sauces, hemp seed cream cheeses, and a marinated hemp seed goat cheese, marketed as dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, and keto products sold direct-to-consumer online and through retail/wholesale channels.

Product overview

Grounded Foods Co. is a plant-based food company specializing in cheese alternatives made from hemp seed and cauliflower. The company operates exclusively through its e-commerce platform (Shopify-hosted store) and sells five core products: two CHEESE FREE CHEESE SAUCE varieties (American Style and Jalapeno), two HEMP SEED CREAM CHEESE variants (Original and Onion & Chives), and one MARINATED HEMP SEED GOAT CHEESE. All products are 100% plant-based, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, and keto. The company was founded by award-winning chef Shaun Quade and Veronica Fil, using a proprietary fermentation process. Founded in Australia and based in Los Angeles, California.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cheese Free Cheese Sauce - American Style Plant-based cheese sauce in an 8oz squeezy pouch, produced from cauliflower and hemp via the company's proprietary fermentation process. Designed for dairy-free consumers seeking a nut-free, soy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, keto cheese sauce alternative for everyday cooking.
• Cheese Free Cheese Sauce - Jalapeño Plant-based spicy queso cheese sauce in an 8oz squeezy pouch, produced from cauliflower and hemp via the proprietary fermentation process with a jalapeño flavoring at a Goldilocks-level of spice. Targeted at dairy-free and vegan consumers wanting a nut-free, soy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, keto spicy cheese sauce.
• Hemp Seed Cream Cheese - Original Plant-based hemp seed cream cheese in an 8oz container, described as dense, tangy, and non-gritty, fully functional for cooking and baking as well as for sweet applications. Marketed to dairy-free, vegan, keto, and allergen-conscious consumers seeking a nut-free, soy-free, gluten-free cream cheese alternative.
• Hemp Seed Cream Cheese - Onion & Chives Plant-based hemp seed cream cheese in an 8oz container flavored with onion and chives, with a rich and creamy texture. Aimed at dairy-free and allergen-conscious consumers wanting a nut-free, soy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, keto spread for bagels, sandwiches, and savory recipes.
• Marinated Hemp Seed Goat Cheese - Lemon, Garlic & Thyme Plant-based marinated goat cheese alternative in an 8oz container, made from hemp seed with a semi-firm and silky texture and packaged in olive oil with garlic, thyme, and lemon. Designed for salads, pasta, pizzas, and sandwiches, and marketed to dairy-free, vegan, and allergen-conscious consumers at $6.99 per unit.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products contain twice the calcium of traditional cream cheese
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Miyoko's Creamery: One of the best-known plant-based cheese brands in the US, with a broad portfolio of wheels, slices, cream cheese and butter. Directly comparable to Grounded as a premium plant-based cheese brand sold through DTC and natural/grocery retail.
• Violife: Global plant-based cheese brand (owned by Bute Island Foods) with strong retail distribution in slices, shreds, blocks and cream cheese. Comparable as a mainstream plant-based cheese alternative competing for the same shelf and consumer occasions.
• Kite Hill: Plant-based brand specializing in almond-based cream cheese, yogurts and cheeses with strong natural and conventional retail presence. Direct competitor in the dairy-free cheese and cream cheese segments.
• Follow Your Heart: Long-standing natural foods brand with a Vegan Gourmet cheese line plus dairy-free sour cream and dressings. Direct competitor in plant-based cheese with similar natural/grocery channel focus.
• Treeline Cheese: Plant-based cheese company specializing in cashew- and tahini-based soft and aged cheeses. Comparable as a small-batch, natural-channel plant-based cheese brand pursuing similar DTC plus retail distribution.
• Forager Project: Plant-based brand with a cashew-based cream cheese and yogurt line sold in mainstream grocery. Comparable as a younger plant-based dairy-alternative brand targeting the same end consumer occasions.
• Bute Island Foods: UK-based maker of plant-based cheeses including the Violife brand and the Sheese range. Directly comparable manufacturer of vegan cheeses with international wholesale distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Daiya Foods: Large plant-based food company with cheese (shreds, slices, cream cheese, cheezecake) as a core category plus broader plant-based offerings. Competes for the same retail shelf space and end consumers.

Emerging players

• New Culture: Pre-commercial food-tech startup making casein-identical dairy proteins via precision fermentation for mozzarella and cheese. Comparable as a fermentation-driven plant/alternative dairy cheese play and an indicator of the technical direction of the category.
• Perfect Day: Precision fermentation dairy protein company supplying animal-free whey for ice cream and dairy products. Comparable as a fermentation-based alternative dairy company and a potential infrastructure partner or competitor for fermented cheese proteins.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/groundedfoods
• TikToktiktok.com/@groundedfoodsco
• Xx.com/grounded_foods

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors9 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Grounded Foods Co.