Prime Roots
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food industry |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Founder | Joshua Nixon, Kimberlie Le |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Plant-based meat alternatives derived from koji, including deli-style and charcuterie products |
Prime Roots, also operating under the name Terramino Foods, is an American enterprise that develops plant-based meat alternatives derived from koji, with a particular emphasis on deli-style and charcuterie products.
History
Established in 2017 by Joshua Nixon and Kimberlie Le, Prime Roots manufactures non-GMO alternatives to meat and seafood utilizing protein-dense fungi, notably the Aspergillus oryzae species, commonly known as kōji mold. Kōji, a traditional element in Asian fermentation processes such as soy sauce and miso production, functions as a complete protein with a filamentous texture similar to muscle fibers, making it an ideal candidate for creating meat substitutes.
The company obtained $250,000 in initial seed capital in December 2017, followed by a second seed funding round in July 2018 that raised $4.25 million from investors including IndieBio and SOSV. In May 2023, Prime Roots secured $30 million through Series B financing aimed at expanding its operations across the United States.
In June 2023, Prime Roots formed a strategic alliance with Quorn, a UK-based mycoprotein producer, to broaden its product distribution. The brand further increased its exposure by being featured in the January 2024 Netflix vegan documentary titled You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment.