Sperri, a Canadian brand of organic and allergen-free plant-based meal replacement beverages, has announced a new investment. Led by Nàdarra Ventures and supported by Invest Nova Scotia, the funding will allow Sperri to expand into the US and develop new products.
Sperri was co-founded by Gregg Curwin, President and CEO of nutrition company Novagevity, and Dr. Mary Lynch, a physician and pain management specialist. Lynch was inspired to develop the beverages after noticing that many of her patients struggled to tolerate existing meal replacements due to ingredients such as dairy, gluten, refined sugars, and soy protein.
To come up with a solution, Lynch partnered with Curwin, a seasoned entrepreneur. Their collaboration resulted in the development of Sperri, which is said to be Canada’s first organic and allergen-free plant-based meal replacement beverage.
The brand has reportedly seen overwhelming support throughout Nova Scotia, with various local investors, industry executives, and members of the pharmaceutical industry also participating in the recent funding round.
“Food is medicine”
While many meal replacement products still contain animal ingredients, the industry is beginning to change. For example, US company Kate Farms produces plant-based and organic tube-feeding formulas for patients with chronic illnesses, as well as nutrition shakes for those with milder conditions. And earlier this year, Singaporean precision fermentation company TurtleTree announced a commercial partnership with Strive Nutrition to launch immunity support beverages and protein powder made with animal-free lactoferrin.
“Our products are grounded in scientific research leading to effective medical nutrition, and the ethos of Sperri is to inspire change within our conventional healthcare systems,” said Sperri co-founder Gregg Curwin. “We are rooted in the belief that food is medicine, and that not only Nova Scotians, but everyone throughout North America, needs that more than ever. Sperri products are designed to be accessible, affordable, and effective, ultimately becoming a major benefit to Primary Care treatment, in a time of critical need to relieve pressure from our healthcare system.”
Sperri’s US expansion will begin with a direct-to-consumer launch on Amazon. In Canada, the brand can be found at Loblaws, Sobeys, Amazon, various independent retailers, and on the Sperri website.
