Pasta Chips Accepts Investment from Advantage Capital Agribusiness Partners
Partnership with Farm Credit and USDA Rural Business Investment Program Funds the Better-for-You, Italian Inspired Snack Brand
ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Pasta Chips proudly announces a new investment from Advantage Capital Agribusiness Partners, LP (ACAP), along with Silas Capital and Emil Capital Partners, valued at $3 million. Founded by Florida-based entrepreneur Jerry Bello, Pasta Chips and the brand's new Pasta Bow Ties, offer unique, quality, Italian inspired snacks crafted from durum wheat semolina flour and baked as a better-for-you snacking alternative. The brand integrates farro, a higher protein grain for a more nutrient-dense product, and embeds fine seasonings based on regional Italian favorites for robust taste and crispy texture throughout.
"At Pasta Chips we are recreating the pasta aisle in snack form using only fresh pasta dough and quality ingredients for a crispy, better-for-you dip and chip option," said Bello, founder and CEO of Pasta Chips. "We wanted to create Pasta Chips as a healthier alternative to the tasteless and overdone options in the deli aisle. We're dedicated to innovating new products to offer our consumers premium ingredient, gourmet taste, and snack food products that have a greater focus on nutrition."
ACAP is a $154.5 million fund, licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a Rural Business Investment Company (RBIC). The fund is a partnership between Advantage Capital and nine Farm Credit organizations, established to bring together resources and people focused on providing more private capital, small business investment, and quality jobs to rural America. Farm Credit supports rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent access to credit and financial services.
Pasta Chips will utilize the support to further accelerate the brand's rapid growth and awareness of the wholesome snack option. In addition, the brand will also be releasing new pasta product lines and innovations as well as increasing distribution from formative retailers including Walmart, Costco, Safeway, and more.
Bello has been a driving force behind other successful food companies including Sensible Portions, Brownie Brittle, and Mamma Says. The snack entrepreneur was inspired to create Pasta Chips after an Italian vacation with his wife where he was served the traditional Italian dish – baked fresh pasta dough drizzled with olive oil. Soon after, Bello created the savory snack company utilizing baked pasta pieces as a delicious, better-for-you, and versatile cracker or chip option.
"Pasta Chips has been setting a new standard for products in the better-for-you snack aisle since the brand's launch in 2013," said Tyler Mayoras, principal at Advantage Capital. "This is a company that is innovating the snack brand marketplace and proving that baked chips can be regionally inspired, healthy, and tasty."
About Pasta Chips
Pasta Chips offers unique, quality, Italian inspired snacks crafted from durum wheat semolina flour and baked as a better-for-you snacking alternative. Borne out of the hills of Tuscany, Pasta Chips were inspired by Italy's gently baked fresh pasta, often drizzled with olive oil and served up in traditional osterias. Pasta Chips was the first to recreate this rich, traditional food, made with premium semolina flour, ancient grains and Italian herbs that have been celebrated for over 800 years. Whether straight from the bag, dipped or dressed and served, they are a great source of protein, cholesterol-free and contain 60 percent less fat than potato chips and 20 percent less fat than pita chips. In five flavors inspired by the sauces and tastes of Italy – Marinara, Alfredo, Spicy Tomato Basil, Garlic Olive Oil and Mediterranean Sea Salt – Pasta Chips are available at major retailers across the nation. For more information about Pasta Chips, please visit www.pastachips.com.
About Advantage Capital Agribusiness Partners, LP (ACAP)
Advantage Capital Agribusiness Partners, LP (ACAP) is a $154.5 million fund that is licensed as a Rural Business Investment Company (RBIC) by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which focuses on businesses involved in the production, processing and supply of agricultural products. It is a partnership between Advantage Capital Partners and nine Farm Credit organizations: AgCountry Farm Credit Services (Fargo, N.D.); AgStar Financial Services (Mankato, Minn.); AgriBank (St. Paul, Minn.); Capital Farm Credit (Bryan, Texas); CoBank (Denver, Colo.); Farm Credit Bank of Texas (Austin, Texas); Farm Credit Services of America (Omaha, Neb.); Farm Credit Services of Mid-America (Louisville, Ky.); and United FCS (Willmar, Minn.).
About Farm Credit
Farm Credit supports rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services, today and tomorrow. Farm Credit has been fulfilling its mission of helping these areas grow and thrive for a century by providing farmers, ranchers and others in rural America with the capital they need to make their businesses successful and by financing vital infrastructure and communication services. Because a steady flow of capital means more jobs and economic growth, Farm Credit is able to invest in the vibrancy of communities throughout rural America. For more information about Farm Credit, visit www.farmcreditnetwork.com.
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SOURCE Pasta Chips
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