Upton's Naturals

Upton's Naturals was founded in 2006 by Daniel Staackmann and is located in Chicago, Illinois. Upton's Naturals is a vegan food company making plant-based meat alternatives using natural ingredients. To found Upton's Naturals, Daniel Staackman took out a $40,000 home-equity loan to finance the early stages of the company.

From 2006 to 2015 Upton's Naturals was making wheat-based seitan products in a variety of styles and flavors, and selling them across the United States. In 2015 Upton's Naturals launched the first ready-to-eat, and preservative-free, jackfruit products available to consumers in the United States. The jackfruit used by Upton's Naturals is harvested, seasoned, and packed in Thailand.

In 2006 Upton's Naturals was selling it's products to local restaurants in Chicago, Illinois out of a 2,500 square foot kitchen, and in June 2013 expanded into a new 9,000 square foot facility with a kitchen, vegan cafe, and community space after taking a Small Business Administration loan.