Planted, the Swiss company known for its plant-based meat products, has officially opened a new production facility in Memmingen, Bavaria, expanding its reach across Europe. The new plant, which incorporates advanced fermentation technology, will allow the company to significantly increase its production capacity.
“Establishing production in close proximity to our core markets was a logical step”
The facility is designed to produce biostructured proteins, with a focus on the planted.steak, the company’s most popular product that has seen strong demand since its launch in 2024. The Memmingen plant will initially have the capacity to produce more than 20 tonnes per day, doubling Planted’s total production output, which previously stood at the company’s Kemptthal, Switzerland location.
Lukas Böni, co-founder of Planted, stated, “With Germany as our largest export market, and an export share of 75%, establishing production in close proximity to our core markets was a logical step. The new facility will also enhance logistics efficiency and help us serve international customers more effectively.”
The Memmingen site, formerly home to a local brewery, is expected to generate about 50 new jobs. The decision to locate in this region was influenced by the availability of skilled labor, the area’s long history of food production, and its strong infrastructure. Additionally, the proximity to Switzerland provides a convenient link for technology transfer between the two sites, which is crucial for Planted’s innovative fermentation processes.
Sustainability remains a key focus for the company, which has worked with the Alois Müller Group to design the Memmingen facility with an emphasis on energy efficiency and CO2 neutrality. The plant will rely on groundwater cooling and a sustainable energy system to minimize its environmental impact.
Tech behind planted.steak
Planted’s Whole-Muscle-Platform, a proprietary fermentation process, allows the company to produce plant-based muscle structures that can be further processed into various meat cuts. This technology is a cornerstone of the planted.steak, which has already secured listings with major European retailers such as REWE, Kaufland, Tesco, Carrefour, Albert Heijn, and Migros. Producing a planted.steak generates 97% fewer CO2 emissions and requires 81% less water compared to beef production.
Product launches & media campaign
As the summer BBQ season approaches, Planted has introduced a new variant of the planted.steak, the planted.steak Paprika, which leverages the same fermentation technology. The company is also working on additional steak products that are expected to reach the market later in 2025.
In addition to expanding its production capabilities, Planted has also launched a media campaign in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The campaign, which includes TV commercials on ProSiebenSat.1 channels and streaming platform Joyn, features Christian Stucki, the 2019 wrestling champion and self-professed meat enthusiast, who has become a brand ambassador for the company.
Judith Wemmer, co-founder and operations lead at Planted, commented, “With this new facility, we are advancing towards scalable and sustainable protein production. Our biotechnological capabilities enable us to introduce new products quickly, making it easier to meet the needs of customers in both the retail and food service sectors.”
