Chunk Foods

About Chunk Foods

Chunk Foods, founded in 2020 by Amos Golan, is an Israeli food-tech company specializing in plant-based whole-cut meats. Golan, who serves as CEO, has a background in organic chemistry and human-computer interaction from MIT, which he combines with culinary arts to drive the company's mission. He identified a market opportunity to create alternatives for whole-cut meats, a segment he noted was less saturated than ground meat alternatives and which allowed for price parity with premium beef cuts from the outset.

The company's core technology is a proprietary solid-state fermentation process that uses food-grade microorganisms to culture ingredients like soy flour and wheat. This method allows for the creation of a fibrous texture that mimics the bite, color, and juiciness of traditional animal-based whole cuts. The process is designed to be more cost-effective than high-moisture extrusion or submerged fermentation. The resulting products are minimally processed and have a clean label, containing ingredients such as cultured soy protein, coconut oil, and beet juice, and are free from preservatives, additives, or GMOs. Each serving provides approximately 25 grams of protein.

Chunk Foods primarily targets the foodservice industry, offering versatile products like steaks and pulled beef that can be grilled, pan-seared, stewed, or smoked, allowing chefs to easily substitute beef in various recipes. The company began its pilot phase in late 2022 and its products are now served in restaurants across the United States. In May 2023, the company announced the construction of one of the world's largest factories for plant-based whole cuts, located in Israel, with the capacity to produce millions of steaks annually. The business has also expanded into Latin America through a partnership with Better Balance, a subsidiary of Mexican food conglomerate Sigma Alimentos.

Since its inception, Chunk Foods has raised approximately $24.5 million in funding over several rounds. Notable investors include Robert Downey Jr.'s FootPrint Coalition, Fall Line Capital, The MIT E14 fund, and Cheyenne Ventures.