D.C.-based Little Sesame has closed an $8.5 million Series A funding round to dramatically expand its hummus production capabilities. The company, founded by Nick Wiseman and Ronen Tenne, plans to use the investment to build a new manufacturing facility that will boost weekly production from current levels to 400,000 pounds of hummus.
This funding follows a $2.2 million USDA grant Little Sesame received to establish direct supply chains with American chickpea farmers, positioning the brand for vertical integration. The restaurant-to-retail transition represents a growing trend where successful local food concepts leverage their proven recipes and customer loyalty to capture shelf space in mainstream grocery stores. Little Sesame’s expansion strategy demonstrates how food brands can scale beyond their original brick-and-mortar footprint while maintaining quality and supply chain control.
