News
GFI: $16+ billion invested in non-meat in 10 years
10 May 2019In a blog post by Mary Allen for the Good Food Institute (GFI), she discusses the findings of the company’s recently-issued State of the Industry reports.
Beyond Meat’s IPO, she says, marked the most successful market debut since 2000, with the stock price rocketing up by 163% by the market’s close that day.
But, she goes on, this is just one aspect of a much larger and accelerating trend: investors are capitalizing on a global shift in meat production.
GFI’s State of the Industry Reports for the plant-based and cell-based industries show that 2017 and 2018 were years of unprecedented investment in plant-based and cell-based meat companies. The past two years saw a dramatic increase in investments, acquisitions, and new companies being founded.More than $16 billion has been invested in U.S. plant-based meat, egg, and dairy companies since 2009, including $13 billion in 2017 and 2018 alone. Of the 19 acquisitions of plant-based companies that have occurred since 2009, 10 took place in 2017 and 2018. Eleven new cell-based meat companies were founded in 2018, bringing the total number of publicly announced companies to 27.Investor interest in plant-based and cell-based products is only gaining momentum, Allen claims – and, she adds, we’ve seen the innovation and enthusiasm driving this surge reflected in the headlines with recent product launches, menu additions, and successful venture rounds.This past April alone, she continues, Burger King, McDonald’s Germany, QDOBA, Taco Bell, and Del Taco added plant-based meat or increased their veg options. Meanwhile, animal-free egg producer Clara Foods closed a series B, and Singapore’s cell-based meat company Shiok Meats closed a $4.6 million seed round.GFI executive director Bruce Friedrich said: “Shifting consumer values have created a favourable market for alternatives to animal-based foods, and we have already seen fast-paced growth in this space across retail and foodservice markets.”But we’re just at the beginning of tremendous growth period for both the plant-based and cell-based industries, Allen believes. Global meat demand is projected to double by 2050. GFI innovation director Brad Barbera points out that “capturing even a fraction of this burgeoning market would represent a massive opportunity for both plant-based and cell-based meat companies.”The entrepreneurs and investors who are building these industries from the ground up have an unprecedented opportunity to drive and capitalize on a sea change in global meat production, Allen concludes.Related news
Consumers lack confidence in Australasian food labelling and ‘fake’ meat
5 Jul 2024
Australian and New Zealand consumers are concerned about foodborne illnesses and do not trust cell-cultured meat, according to a survey by Food Safety Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ).
Read moreNestlé launches GLP-1 Nutrition initiative
4 Jul 2024
Nestlé Health Science has introduced GLP-1 Nutrition, an initiative to support consumers during their weight loss efforts, building on the recent launch of its Vital Pursuit product range. “Nutrition, science, and wellness must merge – not collide,” it...
Read moreRethinking funding for food technology
28 Jun 2024
The landscape of foodtech investment is evolving. With the need for long-term investment perspectives, what are the most effective strategies driving the next wave in foodtech innovation?
Read moreChinese Gen Z consumers hungry for alternative proteins
27 Jun 2024
China’s Gen Z could be at the forefront of a dietary shift, with younger consumers increasingly open to and curious about alternative proteins. With the right strategies to address their concerns and highlight the benefits, the alternative protein mark...
Read moreWill ASEAN harmonise food marketing rules for children?
21 Jun 2024
ASEAN Health Ministries and UNICEF release new guidelines on how food and beverage brands should market their products to children to protect them from harm.
Read moreAdventurous US consumers eager for ‘swicy’ flavours
19 Jun 2024
US manufacturers and marketers are tapping into the adventurer consumer persona and enhancing their products with elevated and diverse ‘swicy’ flavours.
Read moreScientists use digital PCR technology to ensure food safety
18 Jun 2024
Researchers are applying digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology to accurately identify and quantify allergens in foods and adulteration in meat.
Read moreFibre-filled bread leads health-conscious baked buys in Asia
17 Jun 2024
Value revolves around better-for-you bakery claims and nutritious seed-rich loaves as consumers seek less sugar and more fibre from their baked goods, according to Mintel.
Read moreSavvy shoppers choose savings despite lower inflation
12 Jun 2024
Consumers remain cautious about spending, despite global drops in inflation and the UK recording its lowest inflation levels in recent years.
Read moreBrazilian study finds high levels of mycotoxins in flour and rice
10 Jun 2024
For the first time, scientists in Brazil used biomarkers to analyse the risk of mycotoxins in consumers’ diets, finding that some exceed maximum permitted levels.
Read more