Healthier meal delivery RealEats raises $2.8 million in Seed funding

RealEats meals are chef-made, dietitian-approved and use a patent-pending packaging technique inspired by the classic sous-vide style of French cuisine

RealEats, a ready-to-eat meal delivery service headquartered in New York, has raised $2.8 million in a Seed funding round. The meal delivery start-up provides healthy, farm-to-table meals that reduce food waste by using a patent-pending packaging technique and process to ensure food stays fresh for a week when refrigerated.

RealEats claims to use only real ingredients, many of which are from a carefully selected network of local farms in upstate New York, located nearby its kitchen and production facility. 

The capital raise was led by Finger Lakes Forward Venture Capital Fund, which is backed by Empire State Development and managed by Excell Partners. Armory Square Ventures also participated alongside investor Wiley Cerilli, who was on the founding team of Seamless.

“RealEats is located right here in our backyard, and it brings the power of New York state’s farms to tables across the nation,” said Rami Katz, chief operating officer of Excell Partners. 

Katz added: “We are eager to see all that RealEats will continue to accomplish in the near future and watch as the company changes the food industry for the better.”

Fresh food to consumers

RealEats’ patent-pending methodology and packaging technique is inspired by the classic sous-vide style of French cuisine: meals can be heated in minutes, without a microwave, and cater to time-strapped, health-conscious consumers seeking out a nutritious diet.

“I have not seen as unique or relevant of an offering in the meal delivery services space as RealEats. Given my background, I am confident we will work together to be a fiercely competitive force in the industry,” commented Cerilli.

RealEats is dedicated to enhancing the experience of eating at home by making it quick, easy and delicious for people to enjoy the nutritional benefits of real food.

“This capital raise will allow us to solve the dinner dilemma by bridging the gap between healthy and easy for a whole lot more people,” said Dan Wise, chief executive of RealEats. 

Public and private backing

RealEats has received support from New York State, Ontario County and the City of Geneva, along with the Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture at Cornell University. 

This private-public collaboration has allowed the company to grow its local strategy and has become its blueprint for building a healthier food future across America and beyond.

The capital raise adds to the $1 million grand prize from last year’s Grow-NY Competition. 

RealEats also recently became the first meal delivery service company to partner with Partnership for a Healthier America in recognition of its strides to improve the country’s food landscape.

In addition to its capital raise, RealEats announced that Erik Battes has joined the company as president. 

Prior to joining RealEats, Battes served as co-chief executive at Good Uncle, an innovative, app-based, on-demand food delivery business that brings freshly prepared, restaurant-quality meals to conveniently located pick-up points around college campuses. 

Battes oversaw all operations and culinary product development and led the business to an acquisition by Aramark Corporation (NYSE:ARMK) in May of 2019.

Battes was previously culinary director of development for Starr Restaurants, working directly under Stephen Starr where he managed operations and culinary development for 36 multi-concept restaurants with a team of 4,000 employees and annual revenues of $200 million. He was named to Zagat’s “30-Under-30” list in 2012.

RealEats currently ships its meals, including gluten-free, dairy-free and plant-based options, to customers in 28 states and is continuing to expand its distribution.