Blackbird Foods Acquired by Ahimsa Companies

In a major move signaling continued consolidation within the alternative protein sector, plant-based private equity firm Ahimsa Companies announced the acquisition of New York-based frozen brand Blackbird Foods. The transaction, completed in February 2025, sees Blackbird join a growing portfolio that already includes other prominent alt-protein names like Wicked Kitchen and Simulate.

Blackbird Foods, founded in 2020 by CEO Emanuel Storch, has carved out a unique and popular niche in natural grocery stores with its frozen, hand-tossed New York-style pizzas, seitan wings, and raw retail seitan. The acquisition aims to help alternative food brands survive and thrive in the retail space—where high slotting fees, distribution costs, and cash constraints often squeeze early-stage startups.

A 'Shared-Services' Model to Overcome Alt-Protein Struggles

Over the past few years, alt-protein brands have faced cooling venture capital interest and increased scrutiny on profitability. Ahimsa Companies' answer to this challenge is a consolidated, shared-services model. By grouping multiple plant-based brands together under one corporate umbrella, sister companies can pool logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, and broker networks.

“We were able to work with these other like-minded brands to really gain more traction and gain more distribution in this space and piggyback off of each other’s followings and fans and customer base... this acquisition will allow us to further that collaboration,” — Emanuel Storch, CEO and Co-founder, Blackbird Foods

Specifically, alternative nugget manufacturer Simulate has already stepped in to manage Blackbird's logistics—a process Storch described as a "huge time suck." By unifying warehousing, distribution routes, and sales teams, the companies aim to optimize cash flow and boost margins.

Centralizing Production

Ahimsa's consolidation goes beyond sharing spreadsheets; they have secured physical infrastructure. In 2024, the holding company acquired a massive, state-of-the-art 120,000 sq ft plant-based production facility in Heath, Ohio, previously owned by Gathered Foods (the parent company of Good Catch). This facility provides the portfolio with dedicated, large-scale plant-based co-manufacturing capacity, allowing brands to avoid expensive external production fees and secure consistent supply chains.

Alternative Meats Thrive in the Frozen Section

The acquisition highlights a broader industry trend: the resilience of the frozen food aisle. According to retail data tracker Circana, frozen foods represent nearly 70% of the alternative meat category's overall sales. Consumers show a strong preference for frozen options, which offer convenience and longer shelf lives compared to refrigerated alternatives.

“There is a lot of opportunity for us to expand our brand in these subcategories of the frozen space, and that is what we are looking at next,” Storch said, outlining plans to target the frozen food market beyond basic pizzas and meat alternatives.

Blackbird Foods' Growth Trajectory

Despite headwinds in the broader plant-based category, Blackbird Foods has maintained positive momentum. In 2024, the brand increased its revenues by 20% and expanded its retail presence to 3,500 locations nationwide. It has also scaled its foodservice operations, providing plant-based options to schools, including California's school lunch program, and Northeast restaurants.

Looking forward, Blackbird aims to expand its retail footprint. While they are currently in 300 Target doors, they plan to target the remaining 1,900 Target locations, secure full regional representation at Whole Foods, and launch in Kroger. The brand is also preparing to roll out a new four-pack of individual-sized pizzas, which was demoed to high acclaim at the Natural Products Expo West in booth #N744.