Better Chew

Something Better Foods Inc., operating under the brand name Better Chew, is a minority-owned Public Benefit Corporation focused on the plant-based food sector. The company was established in 2017 by founder and CEO, GW Chew, a chef and restaurateur with over 15 years of experience in the vegan food space. His personal journey into plant-based eating began in 2001, prompted by observing the impact of diet-related diseases within his family. This experience fueled his mission to create palatable, healthy, and accessible meat alternatives, leading him to start experimenting with recipes in his mother's kitchen in 2004 and perfecting them over the next 15 years.

The company manufactures and sells a variety of plant-based meat substitutes designed to mimic the texture and taste of popular comfort and ethnic foods, such as fried chicken, steak, and fish. Better Chew's products are developed using a proprietary process that relies on whole, non-GMO soybeans rather than common extrusion techniques. This approach aims to create a more authentic meat-like experience, a feature often highlighted in customer testimonials. The business operates a multi-channel sales strategy, distributing its frozen products directly to consumers via its website, through foodservice partnerships with entities like school districts, and in retail locations including Whole Foods Market. Revenue is generated from these direct sales and retail partnerships. As a B-Corp, a core tenet of the business is to democratize access to healthy food, particularly in underserved communities, by ensuring its products are affordable.

Headquartered in Vallejo, California, the company self-manufactures its products, a strategic decision to maintain control over production and to create local employment opportunities. Better Chew has successfully raised capital from mission-aligned investors and venture capital firms such as ICA, Target Accelerators, and the Whole Foods Market Local and Emerging Accelerator Program, securing over $3.15 million in funding. The company has also expanded its operations, with plans to establish a presence in Alabama, supported by state initiatives aimed at fostering small business growth. In addition to its commercial activities, Better Chew is involved in community education, with initiatives like The Veg Hub, a non-profit restaurant and educational center in Oakland that provides cooking classes and nutrition wellness services.

Keywords: plant-based meat, vegan food manufacturing, food technology, Chef GW Chew, Something Better Foods, plant-based comfort food, meat alternatives, vegan fried chicken, non-GMO soy products, food justice, community wealth, mission-driven business, B-Corp, healthy food access, food service supplier, direct-to-consumer food, plant-based protein, sustainable food, minority-owned business, food innovation, social impact food, vegan steak, plant-based seafood