LOVELAND, COLO. — Grass Fed Foods LLC (GFF) announced on Nov. 15 that it would merge two industry leaders, SunFed Ranch and Teton Waters Ranch, into the largest grass-fed beef platform in the United States.

Woodland, Calif.-based SunFed Ranch features a leading brand of domestic grass-fed beef and boxed beef and case-ready options for steaks, grinds, patties, and other value-added fresh cuts. Teton Waters Ranch, based in Colorado, offers a highly complementary portfolio of grass-fed beef products to SunFed Ranch.

GFF said the combined businesses would have more than $150 million in sales at the merger date trailing 12 months.

“For Grass Fed Foods, having SunFed Ranch and Teton Waters Ranch joined under one comprehensive grass-fed beef platform is the first step in providing grocers and foodservice customers with access to a convenient, turnkey solution for grass-fed beef products in the US,” said Jeff Tripician, president and chief executive officer of Grass Fed Foods. “We are building this platform to provide our customers with the ability to order all the grass-fed beef they need — from fresh boxed beef/primals, case-ready steaks, grinds and patties to processed items like hot dogs, dinner and breakfast sausages, meatballs and cocktail franks — all on one purchase order, on one truck, from one company. And everything we do ties to our three value pillars which emphasize products that are better for you, better for the planet, better for the cattle and the ranchers who raise them.”

Tripician took over as CEO of Teton Waters Ranch in May 2022. He previously worked as president of the Perdue Premium Meat Co., which included the brands of Niman Ranch, Coleman Natural, Panorama Organic Grass-Fed, Sioux Preme and Alexander & Hornung.

Tripician brings more than 36 years of consumer marketing and branding experience to his current role along with 24 years of experience in the meat industry.

“The time is right for grass-fed beef with consumer interest in organic, sustainable and regenerative foods at an all-time high,” Tripician said. “Grass Fed Foods will lead the way for consumers that want to upgrade their beef purchases to a better, healthier choice for themselves, their family and the planet, allowing them to embrace these products."

Matt Byrne, a Sun-Fed Ranch co-founder and sixth-generation rancher, shared his support for this deal and how it can improve lives of US cattle ranchers and US families.

“At the core of our company is creating the connection between these families — every parent wants to see their family thrive,” Byrne said. “Grass-fed beef is a simple change that improves family diets and regenerates the land we all count on.”

Another partner at Sun-Fed Ranch, Chris Donati, co-founder, shared that as a fifth-generation rancher, his role as a steward of the land, livestock and ranchers is at the very core of what they do at the company.

“We have grass-fed ranching and livestock relationships that allow us to scale the brand with great partners coast-to-coast,” Donati added.

Recent data in the 2022 Power of Meat report showed that 8 in 10 shoppers are looking for one or more “Better-for” options — me/my family, the planet, the animal and ranchers — when purchasing meat. And for those specifically focused on the planet, 74% are looking specifically for grass-fed beef options.

With the growing demand, GFF expects to have both Teton Waters Ranch and SunFed Ranch launch into foodservice in early 2023, according to Amanda Duran, chief revenue officer for the newly formed company.

“With the strong demand for grass fed by younger Millennial and Gen Z consumers and established consumers who care about better-for claims upgrading their shopping carts, it is only natural for grass-fed beef to find its way onto progressive-minded menus across the country — from fast casual, to colleges and universities, to corporate dining, grass-fed beef is a clear upgrade consumers want and expect today,” Duran said.

Helping with the merger of Teton Waters Ranch, SunFed Ranch and the Grass Fed Foods platform were private equity firms Sunrise Strategic Partners and Armonia.

“We are excited to be a part of this important milestone in the grass-fed beef industry. The combination of Teton Waters Ranch and SunFed Ranch, which are highly complementary brands, under the leadership of Trip and his team, will enable Grass Fed Foods to become the leading platform in better-for-you protein,” said Vincent Love, co-founder and managing partner of Sunrise Strategic Partners.