OZO_ChickenCutlets

©Planterra Foods

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

From Beef to Beans: When Big Meat Enters Plant-Based in the Americas, Part One

The entrance of Big Meat into the plant-based category was nothing short of inevitable when the food industry began to realize both the huge potential of alternative foods as well as the future limitations on the planet’s capacity to “grow” animals for human consumption. Back in 2019, the New York Times highlighted the fact that Big Meat (with this particular article focusing on Tyson, Smithfield, Perdue, and Hormel) was beginning to gain a foothold in the plant-based category. And last year, Yahoo Finance declared: “The meat industry is going through major upheavals. For example, a dramatic rise in the number of consumers preferring vegetarian food has forced companies to develop plant-based meat products.” Whether the animal meat industry indeed had its hand “forced” by the …

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JBS has commenced construction of Brazil's first research facility focused on cultivated meat.

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Company News

Meat Giant JBS Begins Construction on $62M Innovation Centre for Cultivated Meat

JBS, the largest meat processing company in the world, announces it has commenced construction of Brazil’s first research facility focused on food biotechnology — the JBS Biotech Innovation Centre. Located at Sapiens Parque innovation hub in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, and scheduled to open at the end of 2024, the center aims to be a model facility to produce cultivated meat efficiently, scalable, and at competitive prices. “As a global leader in protein production, it is our responsibility to be at the forefront of foodtech,” says Jerson Nascimento Jr., global supply and innovation director of JBS. $ 62 million According to JBS, the Biotech Innovation Centre will require approximately $62 million in investment over three phases. In the first phase, the meat giant will invest $22 million …

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OZO_ChickenCutlets

©Planterra Foods

Company News

Meat Giant JBS Discontinues US Plant-Based Business Planterra Foods

Brazilian meat processor JBS is ending its US plant-based food business after about two years, the company said on Monday. JBS in the US includes Planterra Foods with its plant-based brand OZO. In July 2021, Planterra announced the expansion of its operations to the UK, Australia and New Zealand. At Anuga 2021, the OZO brand was still represented with a stand. JBS now wishes to focus on its plant-based activities in Brazil and Europe, said Nikki Richardson, spokesperson for JBS USA. The European and Brazilian operations “continue to gain market share and expand their respective customer bases,” she commented. In Europe, JBS acquired vegan brand Vivera in spring 2021 for more than €300m. In Brazil, JBS has been marketing plant-based products under the SEARA brand …

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Plant-Based Protein Chicago Cubs / Wrigley Field Baseball Sports

Photo by Heather Maguire on Unsplash

Society

OZO Partners with Chicago Cubs as Official Plant-Based Protein of Wrigley Field

Planterra’s OZO, a brand owned by meat giant JBS, announces it has been named the official plant-based protein of the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Through the exclusive partnership, Cubs fans can now find OZO products at select concession stands throughout the Wrigley Field ballpark.  “An iconic ballpark” Starting this week, the new plant-based meal options include burgers, shredded chicken nachos and Mexican seasoned ground, and will allow fans to choose their favorite flexitarian or vegan-friendly meal without sacrificing taste, says OZO. “We are ecstatic to partner with the Chicago Cubs at such an iconic ballpark,” said Darcey Macken, Planterra Foods CEO. “At OZO Foods, we know consumers are looking for delicious and healthy protein alternatives, which is why we are bringing as many options as …

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OZO Plant-Based Bacon Launch

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Market & Trends

JBS Claims Plans to “Foster and Develop” Alt Protein Through Multiple Investments & Acquisitions

In a new podcast with Food Manufacture, the largest meat processing company in the world, JBS SA, has revealed plans for its alt protein future. JBS claims it intends to “foster and develop” alt protein innovation with multiple investments and acquisitions across plant-based, fermentation, and cultivated sectors. Citing expected levels of population growth and increased demand for proteins, the Brazilian conglomerate says it has a responsibility to increase alt proteins in its portfolio. Eduardo Noronha, JBS’s global head of innovation and operational excellence, also spoke of changing consumer habits, needs, and trends across the globe that will influence the company’s alt protein direction.  As part of this alt protein expansion, JBS recently completed the acquisition of Spanish cultivated meat leader BioTech Foods. The acquisition also …

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OZO Plant-Based Bacon Launch

©OZO

Food & Beverage

JBS Brand Planterra Launches “Cutting-Edge” OZO Plant-Based Bacon Across USA

Planterra Foods, a Colorado-based food brand owned by meat processor JBS, announces the retail launch of OZO True Bite™ Plant-Based Bacon in Sprouts Farmers Markets nationwide. Made with proprietary technology, Planterra says the new bacon is a first-of-its-kind product that offers consumers the authentic look, aroma and sizzle of traditional pork bacon.  With “cutting-edge” True Bite technology, the brand claims to have created the first sizzling, crispy plant-based bacon that will impress the most passionate bacon lovers. Available in Cracked Black Pepper, Applewood Smoke and Spicy Jalapeño flavors, OZO’s bacon is made from a blend of rice flour, wheat, soy and pea protein, plus sunflower oil and coconut oil. A bet on bacon Planterra’s parent company JBS is the world’s largest meat company, and subsidiary …

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Vivera salmon

©Vivera

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Vivera Launches Plant-Based Salmon Fillets at Lower Cost to Real Salmon

Vivera, the Dutch plant protein producer acquired last year by Brazilian meat giant JBS, this week unveiled a plant-based salmon fillet which will be sold at €3.49 for two fillets, making the product cheaper than conventional salmon fillets, according to the brand. “Price is one of the major barriers for consumers of meat substitutes, and where they are usually more expensive than meat, it is now the other way round. I am curious to what extent this will drive trial,” says Karin Löwik, international marketing manager at Vivera. The salmon alternative, said to have a “fatty bite and flakey structure which falls apart like normal salmon,” was launched in the Dutch fishing village of Volendam where it was served to “the most critical fish lovers” …

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planterra-new-factory

Image: Planterra Foods

Company News

Planterra Foods Opens Denver Factory to Expand OZO Plant-Based Meats

Planterra Foods opens larger factory to increase production of its plant-based meats Planterra Foods yesterday announced the opening of a brand new manufacturing facility in Denver, Colorado. Planterra, which is owned by global meat processor JBS, launched its first plant-based meat brand, OZO, in 2020. OZO offers a full range of Non-GMO, pea protein-based burgers, sausages, and meatballs, as well as upcoming chicken cutlets and shreds, to be released in early 2022.  The new 189,000 sq. ft. plant will greatly expand Planterra’s production capacity, allowing the brand to reach new customers and retailers, and provide valuable employment opportunities to the local community. Between corporate operations and manufacturing positions, it will create about 200 new jobs.  As a subsidiary of JBS, the world’s largest meat company, …

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Meatless Farm Plant-Based Chicken Breast

©Meatless Farm

Products & Launches

Meatless Farm and Planterra Foods Launch Whole Cut Chicken Products

Meatless Farm announces a plant-based chicken breast for the UK market this Veganuary, and JBS owned Planterra Foods, announces a plant-based chicken cutlet for around the same time for the US. Here we take a look at the two products, both aimed at the flexitarian consumer. UK: Meatless Farm Plant-Based Chicken Breast Meatless Farm’s first foray into white ‘meat’ is the new Plant-Based Chicken Breast, which will be available in Tesco and Asda on the UK market for Veganuary 2022. It was awarded Gold Winner of Casual Dining Innovation Challenge 2021 and is made with a blend of plant proteins such as wheat and pea. It can be cooked from chilled in the oven, pan or grill. Morten Toft Bech, Founder of Meatless Farm, said: …

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JBS

©JBS

Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

JBS Enters Cultivated Meat With Acquisition of BioTech Foods and $100M R&D Center in Brazil

Brazil’s JBS – the largest meat processing company in the world – announced it is to purchase Biotech Foods, a cultivated meat producer based in Spain. JBS will also establish a cultivated meat R&D centre in Brazil as part of a $100 million drive, with JBS stating that the “acquisition marks the company’s entry into the cultivated protein market,” according to Reuters. The deal reportedly includes $41 million for the building a new plant for Biotech to scale up production in Spain. In January this year, BioTech Foods announced a €5.2 million R&D initiative called the CULTUREDMEAT project, after receiving funding from the EU last October. JBS clearly recognizes that the future lies in alt meat. Aside from operating its plant-based brand Planterra, the meat giant …

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©OZO

Products & Launches

Planterra Foods Going Global with UK, Australia & New Zealand Expansions Planned

Planterra Foods, the US producer owned by meatpacking giant JBS, has revealed plans to take its OZO range of plant-based meat alternatives to new international markets. The move follows recent retail expansion into Canada and Mexico for the rapidly growing brand.  Planterra’s global expansion plans reflect reports of promising debut sales in the US and Canada, with the flexitarian-focused brand now also fully available in Mexico’s Baja and Yucatan retail markets, as well as in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Islands. Despite being less than two years old as a business, Planterra’s UK launch is slated for later this year, with Australia and New Zealand next in line. Based in Lafayette, CO, Planterra Foods is backed by one of the most controversial companies in the …

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Planterra Foods OZO

©Planterra Foods

Products & Launches

Planterra Foods Expands into Canada and Mexico as Meat Giants Increase Plant-Based Operations

Planterra Foods – owned by JBS USA, one of the world’s most controversial food companies – has announced a supply agreement with UNFI, the largest publicly traded grocery distributor in North America. The deal with UNFI Canada will put Planterra’s OZO product line in more than 200 retail locations in the Canadian market in June, with a retail launch into Mexico planned for July. “Feeding our mission to bring plant-based proteins mainstream by increasing access and encouraging a flexitarian lifestyle” UNFI is the largest publicly traded wholesale distributor of health and specialty food in the United States and Canada and counts itself as Whole Foods Market‘s main supplier. Through the partnership with UNFI Canada, Planterra aims to increase the market for its plant-based burgers, ground, …

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Vivera

©Vivera

Company News

Brazilian Meat Giant JBS to Acquire Vivera Ahead of a Potential American IPO

The world’s largest protein company JBS announces it has reached an agreement to acquire Dutch plant protein producer Vivera, which is currently Europe’s third-largest plant-based food producer, for an enterprise value of €341 million in a deal that includes three manufacturing facilities and a research centre in the  Netherlands. According to Forbes, JBS has its sights on a public listing in the USA; its 2020 financial results show $52.3 billion in sales and sales from its US subsidiaries hit $40 billion for the first time. The deal was said to value Vivera at between 300 million euros ($360 million) to 400 million euros. Until this point, Vivera was the largest independent plant-based company in Europe, providing meat substitutes for major retailers in over 25 countries …

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Planterra Foods OZO Plant-Based Meat

©Planterra Foods

Food & Beverage

JBS, The Largest Global Animal Processor, Launches its Plant-Based Line into Food Service Sector

Planterra Foods, Colorado, announces today that it is launching a new line under its plant-based brand name OZO. The line in burgers, grounds, nuggets and breakfast sausage patties, is aimed at the foodservice sector. Earlier this year we reported that the brand had premiered its products in the retail sector in the US.

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