MealPro CEO Andy Sartori. Photo courtesy of MealPro

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - MealPro, a market leader in providing nutritionally-balanced, prepackaged meals, based in Citrus Heights, recently announced its strategic acquisition of Folsom-based KidneySoft, an online platform specializing in meals, resources and information for chronic kidney disease patients.

KidneySoft, founded in 2022, first partnered with Citrus Heights-based MealPro in April 2023 to offer pre-packaged specialty renal meals designed by a nephrologist and renal dietician to meet the specific needs of patients with chronic kidney disease stages 1 through 5.

“We are thrilled to integrate KidneySoft into our platform,” said MealPro CEO Andy Sartori. “We’ve been partners with KidneySoft for over a year and they have helped build our medical meals division, so it just makes sense to bring them into our family,” Sartori said.

News of the acquisition was reported publicly by MealPro on January 30th. Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.

The acquisition of KidneySoft by MealPro brings together MealPro’s culinary and nutritional expertise with KidneySoft’s educational prowess, Sartori said. Integration of the two companies’ separate web and social media platforms is underway, he said.

Founded in 2018, MealPro, headquartered at 7433 Greenback Ln. in Citrus Heights, has been at the forefront of delivering nutritionally-balanced, ready-to-eat meals tailored to the specific health concerns of each individual customer.

The new alliance enhances MealPro’s ability to better serve a specialized food market, Sartori said.

Its 14,000-square-foot home facility, which it owns, employs a staff of 10 who prepare a wide range of chef-crafted meals daily in its fully-equipped kitchens and cold storage facility. Vacuum-sealed meals are made with fresh produce and large quantities of white meat, lean cuts of red meat or fish.

The exterior of the MealPro headquarters at 7433 Greenback Lane. Photo courtesy of MealPro

The company has over 1,000 customers who mix, match, or customize their meals from multiple menus depending on their tastes and diet preferences.

Orders placed by phone or online can be picked up in-person at the Citrus Heights facility or home-delivered. Meals scheduled for home delivery are packed in a thermal insulated box and shipped directly to the customer’s doorstep, Sartori said.

During busy months, on average, some 6,000 individual meals a week leave the Citrus Heights facility for national distribution, he said. “Some months, the weekly average is much higher.”

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing problem in the United States, affecting more than 37 million people. The disease can lead to a range of complications, including high blood pressure, anemia, and bone disease. One of the most important aspects of managing CKD is maintaining a healthy diet that is low in sodium, phosphorus, and potassium.

“MealPro’s renal meals are specifically designed to meet the dietary needs of patients with CKD, Sartori said. The company employs two full-time renal chefs, he said. Patients who follow a consistent renal diet with clinical nutrition compliance can often help slow or successfully manage CKD.

“We have ten different renal meal choices including pasta chicken, spinach salmon, cauliflower chicken, couscous prawns and roasted tilapia,” he said.

Each 12-ounce portion size (cooked food weight) meal is carefully crafted by a nephrologist and renal dietician to provide the right balance of nutrients, while also being low in sodium, phosphorus, and potassium, Sartori explained. Zero-calorie herbs and spices are typically used as salt substitutes.

“It’s like having a nephrologist and personal chef plan and cook all your meals, but at a fraction of the price,” he said.

“Our new alliance helps to provide patients going through all states of renal failure kidney-friendly meals and will continue to provide up-to-date patient information, Sartori said.

For information about MealPro’s specialty kidney-friendly meal menu, visit: https://www.mealpro.net/medical-meals/renal-meals/. 

“Feel free to contact us with questions at 844-463-2577 or email at [email protected] so we can customize the meals in your kidney-friendly meal plan,” he said.