Wilde Brands raises $1.6M to boost line of meat-based protein bars

BOULDER — Wilde Brands LLC, maker of a new line of meat-based protein snack bars, recently raised nearly $1.6 million in new funding that it will use to grow distribution and beef up sales and marketing.

The Boulder-based company launched into Alfalfa’s Market and Lucky’s Market stores locally in May. But co-founder and chief executive Jason Wright said Whole Foods Market’s Rocky Mountain region stores will be next, starting Aug. 1.

Wright founded the company with Bear Naked and Evol Foods co-founder Brendan Synnott, food scientist and Spork and Ladle managing director Derek Spors, and JR Crosby, CEO of Austin, Texas, branding…