NEW YORK – Bill Niman’s brand of beef sourced from animals that are grass-fed and responsibly raised already were part of meal kit maker Blue Apron’s menus. Now, the brand is part of Blue Apron LLC.
The meal kit delivery service announced the acquisition of BN Ranch brand. Terms of transaction were not disclosed. Niman will join Blue Apron as president and founder of BN Ranch, and he will lead efforts to further develop animal welfare and husbandry standards for beef, pork and poultry at Blue Apron while further expanding its network of farmers, ranchers and suppliers.
“Having worked closely with the team at Blue Apron for nearly two years, I’ve witnessed first-hand their deep commitment to providing the highest quality and wholesome meat and poultry to its customers,” Niman said in a statement. “I’m excited to be joining a growing company that’s positioned to truly change the way that animals are raised for food.”
BN Ranch will continue to supply its current retail, institutional and restaurant customers in addition to providing meat for Blue Apron. Blue Apron expects more BN Ranch products to be added in the coming months.
“Bill is globally recognized as a pioneer in the sustainable meat industry, and we share the same philosophy that high animal welfare and food quality go hand-in-hand” said Matt Wadiak, co-founder and COO of Blue Apron. “By acquiring BN Ranch, and bringing Bill onto our team, we are furthering our vision to build a better food system by making high-quality, responsibly raised meat accessible to home chefs across the country.”
Niman, a former school teacher in West Marin, California, started Niman Ranch in the early 1970s with a vision of producing wholesome meat based on three pillars: economic viability, environmental stewardship and social justice — including humane animal treatment and fair treatment of workers and customers. In 2006, Niman sold his majority ownership in the company before leaving Niman Ranch in 2007. He started anew with BN Ranch.
