Leonardo DiCaprio Just Invested In This Fast-Food Company
It's no secret that Leonardo DiCaprio is a champion for the environment. But now, the actor and activist can add fast-food company investor to his list of accolades.
Announced April 28, DiCaprio was named as a high-profile investor for Neat Food Co., a vegan fast-food company based in the UK. The plant-based brand will open its first brick-and-mortar location in the US by the end of the year.
Made famous for its plant-based fast food options, Neat was launched in 2019 by Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton and Tommaso Chiabra, an early investor in Beyond Meat. It currently has eight London locations but plans on having 12 locations in the U.S. by the end of 2022.
The company is currently scouting spaces in Bryant Park, Midtown Manhattan, and Soho. In total, Neat expects to operate 42 locations worldwide by the end of the year.
The company's commitment to making the food system a more sustainable place is a big reason why environmentalist DiCaprio decided to invest.
"Disrupting our food system with sustainable alternatives is one of the key ways we can make a real difference in reducing global emissions," DiCaprio said in a statement. "Neat Burger's pioneering approach to alternative proteins is a great example of the type of solutions we need moving forward."
According to Bloomberg, last year, plant-based food retail sales grew three times faster than total food retail sales, hitting a record U.S. high of $7.4 billion. The worldwide plant-based food market is expected to reach $162 billion in the next decade, according to a 2021 report by Bloomberg Intelligence.
In addition to its restaurant expansion, Neat plans to launch consumer packaged-good products (CPG) across the country in the next 12 months, including its plant-based chicken patty and hot dogs.
Initially, Neat used Beyond Meat for its burgers but has since switched to a different formula. A double-patty smash burger with vegan cheese, mustard, and house sauce goes for $12 at the recently-opened Neat pop-up restaurant in Midtown Manhattan.
Hungry for more? Check out 16 Celebs Share How They Make Oatmeal.
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