Brothers Matt, Brian and Greg Vetter make an assortment of salad dressings and marinades at their manufacturing plant in Essex. (Image: Baltimore Sun)
Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank and his brother Scott — themselves no strangers to success — are teaming up with a pair of Towson alums to help them take their booming business to the next level. The Planks are investing $5 million in local salad dressing maker Tessemae’s, which is owned by Towson University alumni Matt and Brian Vetter, along with their brother Greg.
The Plank brothers’ venture capitalist firm Sagamore Ventures LLC and development firm War Horse have each contributed early-round financing to the Vetter family venture.
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The investment will allow Tessemae’s, which reached $25 million in sales last year, to expand its national footprint and open additional business channels, the company said. It’s products are sold in Whole Foods, Kroger, Safeway, The Fresh Market and Costco retailers across the country.
Tessemae’s dressing, ketchup, mustard, garlic spread, marinades and mayonnaise all grew out of an olive-oil based homemade dressing that the Vetter brothers’ mother, nicknamed Tessemae, used to make to get her kids to eat vegetables. Because they are made with olive oil and have no thickening agents, sugar, dairy or gluten, the dressings meet requirements of diets such as vegan, paleo and Whole30.
