Justin Turner, third baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers, made the switch to a dairy-free lifestyle in 2015 with the encouragement of a former teammate. Turner has since credited multiple improvements to his health to a plant-based diet, including alleviated pain, reduced inflammation, and better recovery overall.
Putting his money where his mouth and health is, Turner recently made the move to invest in Ripple Foods, whose product portfolio includes plant-based milks, protein shakes, frozen desserts, and more.
The company recently closed a Series E fundraising round in September 2021, raising approximately $60 million.
Turner recently shared more with Fortune about his decision to invest in Ripple as well as why he is a fan of the plant-based lifestyle.
- Startup: Ripple Foods
- Location: Berkeley
- Year founded: 2014
- Valuation: Declined to disclose
- Investment level: $60 million Series E in September 2021
- Number of employees: 70
- Other major investors: Declined to disclose
Why he invested, in his own words
Going dairy-free has been a game-changer for my performance on and off the field, leading me to invest in Ripple. In 2015, I was inspired by one of my teammates to eliminate dairy from my diet. As a professional athlete, ensuring I have proper nutrition and a healthy diet is crucial to my performance. Making lifestyle changes such as going dairy-free was critical to get back to my peak performance and remain in the best shape possible.
Almost immediately, I noticed an enormous difference in how I was feeling. I was no longer experiencing the discomfort that came from consuming dairy products—removing it alleviated pain, reduced inflammation, and my overall recovery after games and practices was significantly better as a result.
Being dairy-free, I’m always looking for the best options with high protein and low sugar. It can be challenging to find products that not only deliver top-of-the-line nutrition but also taste good. Ripple makes it easy, as they’ve cracked the code on this: Their products taste great, are super-creamy, and the nutrition is unparalleled. One of my favorite products from Ripple is the shake; they are shelf-stable so I can bring them on the go with me to practice or have them after a game. Not only are they convenient, but they taste so good.
When it comes to my investment strategy, I am laser-focused on strategic investments in healthy lifestyle brands and products that my wife, Kourtney, and I already use. Ripple is both so it was a no-brainer to invest. I love that investing in Ripple allows me to bring awareness to the benefits of a dairy-free lifestyle and the high-quality, plant-based products that make it easy.
I was also drawn to invest in Ripple not only for the superior nutrition of its products but also because I believe the sustainability component is really important. Ripple uses pea protein, so there is way less water needed to produce it than with other dairy-free products, which is better for the planet. Now that’s what I call a real win—for me, for my fans who are interested in what a dairy-free lifestyle can do for them, and for the environment.
This is an installment of Why I Invested, a series featuring famous investors from all different backgrounds and industries, revealing what inspired them to invest their own money in a new business.
