
Advisory committee unites 90+ years of leadership from José Andrés Group, Diageo, Annie's Homegrown, Constellation Brands, and premium protein category
MIAMI, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, MEAT N' BONE — building America's premium protein brand in a $400B+ market with no clear national leader — proudly announces the appointment of an exceptional group of industry titans to help propel the brand into its next phase of growth. The company is raising $4M in Pre-Series A equity to accelerate national expansion, fund marketing, logistics, debt repayment, and franchising infrastructure.
Advisory Board Members:
- Barry T. Kates: Founder and President of Innovative Group, a nationally recognized experiential marketing, event production, hospitality, and brand activation agency serving the NFL, American Express, ESPN, Major League Baseball, PepsiCo, Heineken, and Red Bull. MIT Entrepreneurial Master's Program graduate and Past President of the South Florida Chapter of Entrepreneurs' Organization.
- Rob Wilder: Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of José Andrés Group (JAG), a global leader in food, hospitality, and media with 45+ restaurants across North America and the Bahamas. Co-Founder of World Central Kitchen, which has served over 500 million meals in response to humanitarian emergencies worldwide. Yale honors graduate and partner in FTW Ventures, investing in innovative food system technologies.
- Deb Luster: Founder and Former President of Annie's Homegrown, a serial social-impact entrepreneur in the CPG industry since 1990. On the founding team of Annie's (now a $1B company owned by General Mills). Founded or led numerous mission-based companies including Goodles and Club Kokomo. Featured in Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Forbes, and on NBC, CBS, and ABC News.
- Carlos M. Herrera: Fortune 500-trained CEO and investor with 20+ years of leadership in food manufacturing, distribution, consumer products, and e-commerce. Former President and CEO of Durham Meat and Seafood (Sierra Meat, Flocchini, MacDonald Meats), a $180M protein platform with U.S. facilities and Asian export operations. Former CEO of Aeropost, the cross-border e-commerce marketplace acquired by PriceSmart in 2018 ($500M GMV). MBA from Babson College.
- Roberto Lopez: CEO of RRA Group and Director on the board of SINSA, one of Central America's largest home improvement retailers. Growth investor and board-level operator across capital, strategy and governance. Meat N' Bone's first institutional investor, and still at the table.
With more than 110 years of combined experience, the Board of Advisors offers deep expertise across experiential marketing, restaurant operations and scaling, CPG brand building and social impact, protein manufacturing and distribution, and capital and governance. The board is advising Meat N' Bone on its expansion plan to reach more than 40 company-owned and franchised locations and over $70M in revenue by 2029, on a path to $100M.
"To say this is a dream come true is an understatement," states Luis Mata, CEO of MEAT N' BONE.
"This Board of Advisors represents exactly the right blend of brand-building prowess, hospitality expertise, supply-chain mastery and capital discipline we need to establish Meat N' Bone as America's premium protein leader. Barry brings world-class experiential marketing and brand activation. Rob brings global food and hospitality scale alongside a proven ability to build category-defining brands. Deb brings three decades of CPG social-impact success. Carlos brings irreplaceable expertise in the meat and protein category; he has lived every aspect of the supply chain. And Roberto, who backed this company before anyone else, brings board-level experience in capital, governance and multi-location retail. Together they are going to help us capture this massive market opportunity and build something truly special. I cannot wait to see what we accomplish together."
About Meat N' Bone:
Meat N' Bone is building America's premium protein brand in a $400B+ category with no national premium leader. The company sells chef-grade beef, pork, poultry, seafood, caviar and game through nationwide shipping, same-day delivery in South Florida, eight boutiques and a central fulfillment center, alongside three food and beverage concepts: The Wagyu Bar, The Wagyu House and Get The Cook. Boutiques double as local fulfillment hubs, giving guests same-day delivery, pickup and nationwide shipping from one network that frozen-only competitors cannot match. Meat N' Bone has fulfilled more than 500,000 orders for more than 150,000 guests, is on track for $13.5M in revenue in 2026, and is expanding toward more than 40 company-owned and franchised boutiques and over $70M in revenue by 2029, on a path to $100M. Meat N' Bone Inc. is a subsidiary of The Butcher's Fund Inc. Learn more at www.meatnbone.com.
Media Contact:
Taylor Foxman
609-432-2237
[email protected]
SOURCE Meat N' Bone
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