Plant-based growth in the UK: Heura and Eatplanted
Heura reports record growth
Plant-based meat firm Heura has reported explosive growth in the past year, with sales, staff numbers and global reach all up from 2020 figures.
The European meat alternatives manufacturer, which also has operations in the UK, reported a year-on-year sales increase of 333% – from 3,000 in 2020 to 13,000 in 2021.
Heura more than doubled turnover in 2021, where it closed on €17.7m (£14.96m) – up from €8m (£6.76m) in 2020. It also expanded its reach to 20 countries, up from 13 in the previous year.
The company grew its team from 38 to 100 across Spain, the UK, Italy and France, with its research and development team at the centre of the growth.
Heura co-founder and chief executive Marc Coloma said: “The talent pool we’ve acquired in our R&D team has more than 30 food science and technology patents under its belt. The proprietary technology we’ll roll out in 2022 will be the key to unlocking the potential of the plant-based movement and flipping the food industry on its head.
“The exponential growth we are experiencing demonstrates that the future will be plant-based. We are committed to accelerating the protein transition with high investment in tech and our activism through entrepreneurship.”
Looking ahead, Heura planned 10 new product launches in 2022 and has committed to achieving price parity with traditional meat products in an effort to make plant-based foods more accessible.
Eatplanted launches in the UK
Swiss-based Eatplanted has launched its range of gourmet plant-based meat alternatives in the UK.
Its range of products, including BBQ plant-based pulled pork and lemon and herb chicken, are now available direct to consumer through its website. The manufacturer has also set-up a ‘sustainable supply chain’ to support the launch through 2022.
Eatplanted takes a novel approach top proving the validity of its lean-label claim by inviting stakeholders to its factory to see the production process for themselves.
Pascal Bieri, Co-founder of Eatplanted, commented: “When we launched Eatplanted, our goal was to harness the power of plants to produce a product that hit the mark in terms of taste, texture, and quality, while removing the need for animal suffering and the detrimental environmental cost of the livestock industry.
“By creating products high in protein that consist only of clean ingredients and no additives, it has never been easier for consumers to swap out meat for a plant-based alternative and protect the planet. We are so proud to play our part in working towards making the world a better place bite by bite.”
Meanwhile, oat-based drinks manufacture Glebe Farm and plant-based meat alternatives brand OZO both announced launches into UK retailers this week.
