Beyond Meat, Inc., branded as Beyond,[3] is a producer of plant-based meat alternatives founded in 2009 by Ethan Brown. The company's products were first launched in the United States in 2012.[4][5][6][7]
Beyond Meat's signature product is its plant-based beef 'Beyond Burger'.[8] It also makes plant-based chicken and pork products.[9][10]
As of December 2024, the company's products were available at 27,000 retail outlets in the United States, 38,000 retail outlets internationally, 38,000 foodservice outlets in the United States, and 26,000 foodservice outlets internationally.[1] The company's products are available in 65 countries worldwide.[1] The company's largest customer is Dot Foods, accounting for 12% of revenue in 2024.[1] The company's products do not contain GMOs, added hormones or antibiotics, or cholesterol and are certified Kosher and Halal.[1] The primary ingredient in the company's products is pea protein, supplied by Roquette Frères.[1]
History
Founding
The company was founded in 2009 by Ethan Brown, who wanted to mitigate climate change.[11] Brown licensed technology from two University of Missouri professors, Fu-hung Hsieh and Harold Huff, who had been developing their meatless protein since the 1980s.[11][12]
Beyond Meat launched its first product, Beyond Chicken Strips (originally called "Chicken-Free Strips"),[13] at Whole Foods Market in 2012 and expanded nationally in 2013.[11]
Products
Plant-based beef
Beyond Burger (2016–present)
In May 2016, Beyond Meat launched its signature product, the 'Beyond Burger' patty.[8][33]
In 2019, the company launched its 'Beyond Burger 2.0', which was a 'meatier' design with less saturated fat than the original product.[34][35] In 2021, this was followed by its 'Beyond Burger 3.0', which further reduced its fat and calorie content whilst maintaining the same amount of protein.[36]
Nutrition
The original Beyond Burger patty contained 270 kcal of food energy, 20 grams of protein, 20 grams of fat (of which five grams was saturated fat) and one gram of salt. Whilst the protein and fat content was similar to a beef patty of a similar weight, the salt content was "much higher" but without any cholesterol.[77][78] The number of ingredients and processes involved in making the products mean they were classified as ultra-processed foods in the Nova classification,[78] although the applicability of the Nova classification to soybean-based foods was questioned.[79]
In February 2024, Beyond Meat updated its beef recipe to reduce the ingredient list and decrease the content of salt by 20% and saturated fat by 60%.[38][39]
Market distribution
In July 2019, Dunkin' Donuts announced that they would begin selling breakfast sandwiches using the Meatless Sausage product in Manhattan, with plans for national distribution beginning on 6 November 2019.[83][84]
In November 2020, Beyond Meat announced a collaboration with McDonald's for development of the McPlant option, a plant-based patty and chicken substitute.[85] It started testing the McPlant in Denmark and Sweden in February 2021.[86] Beyond Meat also announced the launch in China of a plant-based version of minced pork.[87]
See also
- Impossible Foods
- List of meat substitutes
- Veganism
External links
References
- Beyond Meat, Inc. 2024 Form 10-K Annual Report U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, March 5, 2025^
- Beyond Meat, Inc. Schedule 14A U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, April 8, 2025^
- Rachael Davis. Beyond Meat unveils new name amid major company overhaul