After a recent $42 million Series B round raise, Canadian plant-based meat manufacturer, No Meat Factory (NMF) has announced it will open its first production facility in the United States to expand its manufacturing capacity.
“We are excited to expand our operations with the acquisition of the Stanwood, Washington production facility”
The Canadian firm will invest up to $20 million in renovations and improvements to reopen a plant in Stanwood, Washington, 50 miles north of Seattle, closed by Twin City Foods in 2017. The new plant is estimated to be operational by the end of 2023, employing as many as 150 workers, the US Department of Commerce said in an announcement.
Plant-based, alt protein products
“This site will also produce exclusively plant-based alternative protein products to satisfy our growing partners’ requirements,” commented Leon Bell, founder and COO of No Meat Factory.
Founded in 2019, No Meat Factory has raised $60 million to date. It operates a manufacturing facility in British Columbia (Canada), producing various plant-based products for third parties (brands, food service, and private labels), ranging from burgers to chicken nuggets to whole cut alternatives.
The firm also manages an innovation center in Surrey (British Columbia) focused on commercializing the latest innovations in alternative proteins.
“We are excited to expand our operations with the acquisition of the Stanwood, Washington production facility,” Bell said.
Better service the US market
The Stanwood facility will have the capability to produce a full line of convenience products, including veggie burgers and nuggets, a veggie-based ground beef substitute, seafood alternatives, and extruded products, such as sausages and wieners, reported the Department of Commerce.
A $200,000 state economic development grant to Economic Alliance Snohomish County will support site engineering, development costs, and initial plant upgrades.
“We are proud to support this venture and to see the return of over 100 food processing jobs to our community,” said Gerry Clark, Economic Alliance Snohomish County CEO and president.
The Stanwood facility will allow NMF to meet the growing demand for plant-based meat products. “In Stanwood, No Meat Factory will realize additional manufacturing capacity for convenience products and provide additional manufacturing capabilities for plant-based deli and sausage alternatives, allowing us to better service the U.S. market through our existing brand owner partners and increase our offering to food service and private label clients.”
