Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 12/8/17



El Segundo, Calif.-based Beyond Meat has raised $55 million in its latest financing round led by Cleveland Avenue, LLC, the venture capital firm founded by Don Thompson, former CEO of McDonald’s Corporation.

As reported yesterday, Tyson Foods was among the investors upping its stake in the meat substitute maker.


Beyond Meat’s Beyond Burger is now sold in more than 5,000 stores. The plant-based product is being sold in the meat case at the country’s two largest grocery chains, Kroger and Albertsons Companies.   

This latest round of fundraising totaling $55 million, will be used to more than triple the size of the Beyond Meat’s production footprint, further fund the company’s R&D commitment and expand sales and distribution.

The Beyond Burger is made entirely from plants, without GMOs, soy, or gluten. It is being marketed as containing more protein and iron than beef and as a cholesterol-free food, with less saturated fat than beef. A quarter-pound Beyond Burger sold in grocery stores has 4 grams of saturated fat and 22 grams of total fat, compared to an 80/20 beef burger’s 9 grams of saturated fat and 23 grams of total fat, according to the company.

Since launching last year, The Beyond Burger has been added to the menu at nearly 4,000 restaurants, hotels, college campus dining halls, hospitals and other food service outlets. Most recently, a soft launch of The Beyond Burger at TGI Fridays will evolve into a nationwide rollout across its 469 restaurants in 2018.

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.