A HEALTHY CLUB STARTS WITH HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
Female-Founded and Female-Led Organizations Angel City FC and Ritual Are Committing to Reducing Food Waste and Promoting Food Recovery
To facilitate peak performance on the pitch, we’re proud to partner with Ritual as the ACFC’s official protein partner through the 2024 season. This partnership, the first-ever sponsorship for the LA-based personal health technology brand, will support our players while fighting food waste and food insecurity in the community.
“With the launch of our new traceable plant-based protein, we set out to challenge an industry and create a product that could both hold up to the standards that a professional athlete demands while also supporting people in their everyday routines. This partnership brings that mission to life. We’re thrilled Essential Protein Daily Shake is now the official protein of ACFC and that together, we can support our community on and off the pitch,” said Katerina Schneider, Founder and CEO of Ritual.
“Our partnership with Ritual is instrumental in delivering on our club’s priority to provide clean, high-quality nutritional products for our players and coaches,” said ACFC Vice President of Player Development & Operations Angela Hucles Mangano. “Ritual places precedence on the health and well-being of their consumers, and we are excited to partner with them on the pitch and in the community.”
Every product at Ritual starts with science, is developed based on thousands of independent research studies, and undergoes rigorous third-party testing to ensure each batch meets its high standards. This clean, plant-based protein contains 20g of sustainably sourced pea protein and key essential micro and macronutrients to help support bones, brains, and muscles. As a part of the partnership, Angel City players and coaches will be able to utilize Ritual’s Essential Protein Daily Shake to support their nutrition. Additionally, Ritual will also provide Essential Prenatal and Essential Postnatal multivitamins for players and coaches as needed to help provide nutritional support before and during pregnancy as well as postpartum.
With the shared goal of providing the best quality to the community, fans, and customers, Ritual and ACFC will re-allocate a portion of the sponsorship value to Food Forward, a nonprofit organization that fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing fresh surplus produce and distributing it to families in need across Southern California.
With hunger on the rise during the pandemic, the need to reduce food waste is becoming more urgent. According to the USDA, roughly 30 to 40% of food in the U.S. is spoiled or thrown away rather than eaten. Meanwhile, more than one in nine US households are food insecure. As part of the program, staff and representatives from both ACFC and Ritual will have the opportunity to volunteer and power Food Forward's work to create a future where everyone obtains access to healthy produce.