Jerky maker Country Archer raises $12m in Series C funding

US meat snack brand Country Archer Jerky has secured $12 million in funding from Los Angeles-based private equity firm Monogram Capital Partners.

The Series C funding will allow Country Archer to build a new snack facility, allowing it to double production capacity as it looks to keep pace with “explosive growth”.

Opening in San Bernardino, California, in late spring 2020, the 72,000-square-foot site will allow for streamlined operations and will facilitate ongoing innovation.

Country Archer jerky and meat sticks are made with cuts of grass-fed beef and antibiotic-free turkey and pork. Its products are on sale in more than 25,000 stores across the US.

“As we continue to grow at such a rapid pace, one of the most important things to us is that we retain what makes our brand so special – we’re a heritage company that is still making a craft product the exact same way that the artisan butcher who taught me did,” said CEO and co-founder, Eugene Kang.

“It’s critical to me that we manage every step of our unique process, from ingredient selection, to butchery, marinating, slow cooking and packaging, and owning our own facilities enables us to do that. Monogram has been an incredible partner from early on and shares the same values and vision in terms of sustainability, quality and scaling in a smart way. We’re thrilled to work with them again to open our new facility doors in a few months.”

In 2018, Country Archer secured a $10 million investment from Monogram Capital Partners, which helped to expand production at its current facility.

“It’s rare to see a company experience such accelerated growth in a short amount of time and it’s been incredible to join Country Archer on this ride,” said Jared Stein, co-founder and partner at Monogram Capital Partners.

“What is even more unique is to find a brand in this space that controls production. Vertical integration and owning quality control are key. With their commitment to manufacturing in-house and maintaining authenticity in their products, we are confident that Country Archer will prove to be an even bigger force in the meat snack space.

“We’re excited to help fund this next phase of expansion and continue to invigorate the meat snack category through innovation, clean ingredients and sustainability.”