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Voyage Foods Opens $25M USDA-Backed Facility, Targeting 10,000 Metric Tons of Cocoa-Free Chocolate Annually

Voyage Foods, a food technology company based in Oakland, California, is set to expand its manufacturing operations with a new facility in Mason, Ohio.

The plant, spanning 284,000 square feet, will be used to produce the company’s cocoa-free chocolate, nut-free spreads, and bean-free coffee. The factory is expected to be operational by January 2025 and, once fully established, will have an annual production capacity of 10,000 metric tons of cocoa-free chocolate.

“Voyage is maturing from a startup food technology company to a large-scale manufacturer”

Construction of the plant is being partially funded through a $25 million loan guaranteed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which supports the development of food production facilities in rural areas.

Commenting on the new facility, Adam Maxwell, CEO and founder of Voyage Foods, said, “With this new facility, Voyage is maturing from a startup food technology company to a large-scale manufacturer with the ability to deliver value across the entire ecosystem to our people, partners, and the planet.”

Voyage Foods bean-free coffee
© Voyage Foods

Founded in 2021, Voyage Foods has raised over $94 million from investors, navigating a challenging investment landscape for food startups. The company’s focus on using widely available, inexpensive ingredients, many of which are upcycled from waste streams, has allowed it to offer more stable pricing to its partners while also promoting sustainability and allergen-free alternatives.

Enhancing production capabilities

The Mason plant will complement Voyage Foods’ headquarters and existing manufacturing site in Oakland, California. The company has focused on creating alternative products that mimic the taste and functionality of traditional food items but are made using plant-based, allergen-free, and more sustainable ingredients.

Its cocoa-free chocolate, for example, aims to provide a more sustainable alternative to conventional chocolate, which relies on cocoa arming that can have significant environmental and ethical challenges.

Voyage Foods
© Voyage Foods

Recent milestones

The expansion follows Voyage Foods’ recent strategic efforts, including a partnership with multinational food corporation Cargill, which signed an exclusive distribution agreement in April 2024. The deal positioned Cargill as the global B2B distributor for Voyage’s cocoa-free chocolate and nut-free spreads. 

The company also secured $52 million in a funding round earlier this year, which has supported the rollout of new products, including peanut-free butter, hazelnut-free spreads and bean-free coffee. The new facility in Ohio is designed to meet the increased production demand from 

Maxwell concluded, “We feel very lucky to establish roots in Mason and continue Voyage’s story here.”

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