Kalahari Biltong, a new meat-based snack brand, announced today that it has closed on a round of equity financing. The investment was led by AccelFoods, a New York-based venture fund, exclusively focused on investing in innovative packaged food and beverage brands.

Kalahari Biltong is the only manufacturer producing in the centuries-old South African tradition of naturally air drying meat with simple ingredients, creating a cross between dry-aged beef, jerky, and prosciutto. Biltong disrupts the meat snack category and differs from jerky in a number of ways, including its manufacturing process and superior nutritional profile. Biltong, unlike jerky, is air-dried for up to 21 days, resulting in thin, tender slices of beef that are lean, high in protein, sugar-free, and low in sodium. This round of funding will be used to launch the brand at retail, significantly expand manufacturing, rollout a field marketing program, and launch new flavors.

Tyler Noyes, Co-Founder and CEO of Kalahari Biltong discovered this cured meat while in South Africafor an Ironman and Ultra Marathon with fellow Co-Founders Brett Johnston and Robin Ginsburg. "Our category is experiencing tremendous growth with no sign of slowing down, yet no one is truly innovating. We are proud to bring the only authentic, US-produced Biltong to consumers and usher in a new standard of quality in the space. Our partnership with AccelFoods allows us to join forces with a team that has the expertise and resources to help us scale nationally and quickly."

AccelFoods has built its reputation partnering with disruptive food brands and arming them with the infrastructure to scale. "Kalahari represents true innovation that will change the meat snacks category with its exceptional taste and nutritional profile," said AccelFoods' Frank Zampardi. Since joining AccelFoods as a Partner in the Spring of 2017, Zampardi, the former head of sales for Krave Jerky, has been looking for the right opportunity to reenter the meat snacks category. In conjunction with this round of financing, Zampardi joined the Company's Board of Directors.

ABOUT KALAHARI BILTONG

Boston, MA Kalahari Biltong, produces authentic biltong in a centuries-old South African tradition of naturally air dried meat with simple ingredients and no sugar, resulting in delicious, thin, tender slices of beef that greatly surpass the texture and nutritional value of jerky. Please visit eatbiltong.com for more information.