Divert secured new funding led by Wittington Investments, Limited to accelerate the buildout of infrastructure aimed at reducing wasted food across North America, as the company scales its “Prevent, Provide, Power” model across major retail and manufacturing customers.
The West Concord, Massachusetts-based circular economy company said the capital will support expanding operations and deploying additional wasted-food solutions, with a particular focus on completing Integrated Diversion & Energy Facilities in Longview, Washington and Lexington, North Carolina, which are expected to begin operating later this year. Divert converts unsold, non-donatable food into beneficial outputs using anaerobic digestion, producing carbon-negative renewable energy as well as soil amendment and nitrogen-rich fertilizer, while also helping customers comply with organic waste mandates and reduce costs through improved purchasing and merchandising.
Divert highlighted its existing facility in Turlock, California, which it said can process 100,000 tons of unsold food annually, as an example of the infrastructure model it is replicating in new markets. The company framed the expansion against the broader scale of the problem, citing nearly 74 million tons of surplus food generated in the U.S. in 2023 and noting that more than 46% of food is wasted each year in Canada.
Alongside the funding, Divert’s parent company, Ara Divert HoldCo, expanded its board with two new directors to strengthen energy-sector expertise and international support. New board members include Zvi Orvitz, managing director of Sustainability and Energy Transition at Wittington Investments, and Ali Naqvi, chief investment officer at Ontario Power Generation.
Divert is backed by Ara Partners, a private equity firm focused on industrial decarbonization. Financial terms of the new investment were not disclosed.
KEY QUOTES:
“This investment is a strong endorsement of what our team has built over 19 years as we continue to scale our infrastructure to solve the wasted food crisis. This funding underscores confidence in our industry leadership, proven ability to turn vision into infrastructure at scale, and the measurable impact of our solutions. We are eager to expand our footprint in North America and continue to deliver value to customers, communities, and investors.”
Ryan Begin, CEO and Co-Founder, Divert
“Divert’s growth underscores both the urgency of the escalating food waste issue and the team’s ambitions to drive real impact. We look forward to supporting Divert as they scale operations and expand the delivery of innovative food waste solutions across the U.S. and beyond.”
Zvi Orvitz, Managing Director, Sustainability and Energy Transition, Wittington Investments, Limited
“I’m honored to be able to help support and guide Divert on their mission to prevent food from being wasted by joining their Board of Directors. Divert has already had a large impact on reducing wasted food in the U.S., and I’m looking forward to being part of their continued efforts to grow their solution to reduce wasted food across North America.”
Ali Naqvi, Chief Investment Officer, Ontario Power Generation; Divert Board Member
“This funding builds on previous rounds and demonstrates the confidence our investors have in our approach to address the wasted food crisis. As we continue our relationship with Wittington Investments, Limited and other global partners, we look forward to deploying capital to scale our business to meet the strong demand for wasted food solutions.”
Brad Lukow, CFO, Divert
