Backed by Government & EU Funding, Umiami Opens Large-Scale Plant-Based Meat Facility in France

Umiami, a Parisian plant-based whole-cut meat producer, has opened a new commercial-scale facility in the Alsace region of France with funding from the French government, the Grand Est area, and the EU. The 14,000 sq m facility, which can produce 7,500 tonnes of plant-based meat annually, will allow Umiami to launch its soy-protein-based whole-cut chicken in French supermarkets this year. The company's innovative "umisation" technology creates plant-based meat alternatives that mimic the taste and texture of animal meat, with a clean-label product containing fewer than 10 ingredients.

The expansion of Umiami's product availability to European and North American markets comes amidst a growing trend of consumers reducing their meat consumption in France and across Europe. The plant-based industry in Europe has been steadily growing, with sales of meat alternatives increasing by 17% from 2020-2022. Umiami's focus on providing clean-label products with shorter ingredient lists aims to address consumer concerns about processed plant-based meats, positioning the company for success in a changing market landscape.