Meati Holdings completes acquisition and restructuring to relaunch Meati Foods brand

Meati Holdings, Inc has completed the acquisition of Colorado-based Meati Foods, marking the start of a strategic corporate restructuring aimed at restoring the company’s financial stability and positioning its mycelium-based products for renewed growth.

The acquisition was led by Yasir Abdul, President of Meati Holdings, who described the deal as a pivotal opportunity to transform Meati into a leading name in the clean food sector. Meati Foods, known for its mycelium-based whole cuts produced via submerged fermentation, had previously raised more than US$450 million across 11 funding rounds and attracted high-profile supporters including chef David Chang, MLB Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, and TV personality Rachael Ray.

Despite this early momentum, the company’s former leadership struggled to achieve profitability. “Our initial goal is to stabilize operations, as the Thornton, Colorado facility where Meati products are made is currently unprofitable and unsustainable,” Abdul said. He added that Meati Holdings is exploring new models, including a potential direct-to-consumer approach, to optimize revenue and operations.

Under the restructuring, Meati Foods will operate as a subsidiary of Meati Holdings, Inc, which was established to strengthen the company’s financial foundation and unlock its growth potential. “Unfortunately, when start-ups and founders build a brand they have tunnel vision. Often they do not understand the numbers, the revenue, or the gross profit,” Abdul said. “Meati is now poised for growth.”

Abdul, a veteran entrepreneur with more than four decades of experience, is best known for his success with InvenTel Corporation, the 'As Seen On TV' company behind a portfolio of global consumer brands sold across major retail chains. His plan is to leverage those established retail relationships to bring Meati’s products to a wider market. “As Seen On TV products are available in all major retailers across the world, so we plan on leveraging our existing retail relationships to expand the distribution for Meati,” he said.

Meati Foods gained widespread attention for its use of mycelium – the root structure of mushrooms – to create whole-cut meat alternatives such as steaks and cutlets. The company’s fermentation technology was designed to produce nutritious, high-protein, fiber-rich foods with a fraction of the environmental footprint of conventional meat.

While Meati achieved strong brand recognition and distribution growth, it faced mounting financial pressures amid broader challenges in the alternative protein sector. Industry analysts have noted that even well-funded startups have struggled to balance scaling costs with market demand in recent years.

Abdul’s acquisition and restructuring plan represent a shift from startup-style operations toward a more commercially disciplined business model. His stated priorities include restoring profitability at Meati’s manufacturing site, refining the go-to-market strategy, and rebuilding investor and consumer confidence in the brand.

“We formed Meati Holdings Inc., and the goal of the sale to us is that we could grow Meati Foods’ operational value,” Abdul said.

While specific financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed, the move gives Meati Holdings full ownership of Meati Foods and its production assets. Industry observers will be watching closely to see whether Abdul’s experience in consumer product distribution can translate to the competitive alternative protein market.

The restructuring comes at a time when consumer demand for sustainable, high-protein foods remains strong, but investor sentiment has cooled toward alt-protein startups that have yet to demonstrate profitability. Abdul’s leadership could signal a more pragmatic approach – one focused on disciplined operations and retail-driven growth rather than aggressive scaling.

With production continuing in Colorado and a renewed focus on operational sustainability, Meati Holdings aims to revive the brand’s original mission: to bring nutritious, mycelium-based whole cuts to mainstream consumers.