Plant-Based Meat Producer Beyond Meat Opens Its First Production Facility In Europe

Plant-based meat maker Beyond Meat is opening its first co-manufacturing production site in Europe as Covid-19 increases the demand for its products. 

Beyond Meat will be now producing plant-based burgers and sausages in the new co-manufacturing facility in Zoeterwoude, the Netherlands. The facility is owned and operated by Dutch company Zandbergen, a leading company in the international protein supply chain. Zandberg started offering alternative protein solutions in 2018. 

Beyond Meat says the factory would be operational by the end of the year.

I will allow for more efficient distribution of Beyond Meat's products across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Beyond Meat will also debut new, more eco-friendly packaging for both the Beyond Burger and Beyond Sausage available in EMEA regions. The new packaging aligns with brand's commitment to sustainability. It will feature fully recyclable trays and 30% less material overall by reducing paper and plastic use.

This week, Beyond Meat also acquired its first manufacturing facility in Europe located in Enschede, the Netherlands. This Beyond Meat owned facility will be the first outside of the US to handle Beyond Meat's innovative approach to texturizing plant proteins, the first step in the company's manufacturing process. The new Beyond Meat facility is expected to be operational by the end of 2020, allowing for end-to-end manufacturing capabilities in Europe.

"This latest investment in production capacity reflects our continued commitment to serving global markets," said Ethan Brown, Founder and CEO of Beyond Meat. 

"Our new facility in Enschede will not only bring production closer to the consumer, representing an investment in the markets and communities we serve, but is expected to allow us to leverage local supply chains, improving our cost structure and sustainability of operations. We are excited to take this next step in bringing the nutritional and environmental benefits of our plant-based meats to the European consumer."

"As the demand for plant-based protein and particularly Beyond Meat products grows in Europe and the Middle East, the official opening of this co-manufacturing facility in Zoeterwoude, the Netherlands is timely," said Adriaan Figee, Chief Commercial Officer of Zandbergen World's Finest Meat.

Beyond Meat is one of the fastest-growing food companies in the world, offering a portfolio of revolutionary plant-based meats. The company was founded in 2009 with a mission of building meat directly from plants. The brand's innovation enables consumers to experience the taste and texture of popular animal-based meat products while enjoying the nutritional and environmental benefits of eating its plant-based meat products.

Beyond Meat's vegan products are available at approximately 94,000 retail and foodservice outlets in 75 countries worldwide.