Industry | Eco-friendly & Sustainable products |
---|---|
Founded | 2018 |
Founder | Dinesh Tadepalli |
Headquarters | Morrisville, North Carolina, United States |
Products | Single-use biodegradable & compostable spoons, sparks, and straws |
Website | incredibleeats |
IncrEDIBLE Eats is an American edible cutlery manufacturing startup based in Morrisville, North Carolina. IncrEDIBLE Eats was founded in 2018 by an electrical engineer, Dinesh Tadepalli, as an eco-friendly alternative to disposable utensils prepared with plastic, wood, and bamboo. Their diverse offerings include edible items, providing consumers with a planet-friendly choice for everyday essentials like straws, spoons, and sporks.[1]
IncrEDIBLE Eats, originally named Planeteer, was founded in 2018 by electrical engineer Dinesh Tadepalli in Morrisville, North Carolina.
In February 2019, IncrEDIBLE Eats introduced the first edible spoons to the market. The innovation gained attention, leading to the company's participation in trade fairs and an invitation to pitch on Shark Tank.
On October 22, 2021, IncrEDIBLE Eats appeared on Episode 3 of Shark Tank US Season 13. The company received offers from four sharks. The founder, Dinesh Tadepalli, accepted a counter-offer from Shark Lori Greiner for $500,000 in exchange for a 15% equity stake. However, the deal did not materialize.[2]
In 2021, IncrEDIBLE Eats secured seed funding of $200,000 from Big Idea Ventures.
In January 2022, the company partnered with Dippin’ Dots, a beaded ice cream brand in the United States. The partnership enabled customers at Dippin' Dots outlets to choose between vanilla or chocolate edible spoons to enjoy alongside their ice cream.[3]
Each spoon from IncrEDIBLE Eats is individually wrapped in recyclable paper sleeves certified by the Rainforest Alliance. For every three boxes sold, the company plants a tree to offset emissions from transportation. IncrEDIBLE Eats also invests in renewable energy projects in Aruba and India and supports initiatives like Plastic Bank in Haiti and Waste Ventures in India to promote sustainability.[4]
Dinesh Tadepalli was born and raised in a Telugu family in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India. He moved to the United States in 2007 to pursue his master’s in electrical engineering.
In 2018, while sharing ice cream with his daughter, Tadepalli was disturbed by the sight of a bin filled with plastic spoons, sparking his passion for environmental conservation. Determined to reduce plastic pollution, he collaborated with Kruvil Patel to establish machinery for producing edible utensils in the US.[5]
IncrEDIBLE Eats produces single-use edible spoons, forks, and straws made from various types of flour. Since 2019, the company has sold over six million pieces of edible cutlery. As of April 2024, IncrEDIBLE Eats markets edible spoons, sporks, and straws but plans to expand its product line to include coffee stirrers, cups, bowls, and chopsticks.[6]
The products are vegetarian and manufactured using all-natural ingredients, including non-GMO corn, wheat, chickpeas, and brown rice. With a shelf life of six months, the spoons can decompose if not consumed. They come in four flavors—Black Pepper, Vanilla, Oregano Chilli, and Chocolate—and are lightly flavored to complement the taste of the food they carry. The spoons are manufactured in a facility that does not process nuts, are dairy-free, and are suitable for various dietary preferences.[7]
IncrEDIBLE Eats' edible cutlery can withstand hot and cold temperatures for 20–30 minutes, making it suitable for various food and beverage applications.
The company sells its products on its website and through Amazon.