Plant & Bean to open huge production facility in England
UK company will manufacture plant-based food products for a range of customers at new facility the size of 50 football pitches
Plant & Bean, which develops and manufactures plant-based food products in the UK, is opening a plant-based meat production facility in Boston, Lincolnshire. The company claims it will be Europe’s largest – and at a whopping 65 acres (263,000 square metres) few would dispute that.
With a planned initial capacity of 55,000 tonnes, the facility will provide sub-scale companies, larger international brands and retailers with a fully-certified European manufacturing site for their products.
Plant & Bean stated it aims to establish the world’s first global plant-based manufacturing platform by replicating the UK production facilities in the US next year, and Asia in 2022.
Plant & Bean chief executive Edwin Bark said: “Today’s announcement underscores our commitment to repair what is a broken food system. Right now, 65% of consumers do not eat plant-based meats due to price and quality. With our two-pronged approach, we believe we are best placed to make the meaningful change required to tackle these issues.
“With our progressive global manufacturing strategy, brands will finally have the means to scale high-volume product ranges in order to lower the price-point for consumers. As regards product quality, we are making huge strides in improving the taste, texture and appearance of plant-based meat – bringing together the brightest minds in the food industry to reinvent the way we make plant-based meat at the ingredient and process level.”
Formerly known as the meat-free division within Brecks Foods, Plant & Bean has a 20-year track record of developing plant-based meat products for brands and retailers.
Last year he company received a £9 million Series A investment from NR Instant Produce, which is listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.