‘La Vie est Belle’: French Vegan Meat Maker Doubles Funding Pot with €25M Investment, Rolls Out Meatballs

French vegan meat maker La Vie has recently received a €25M investment, doubling its funding pot and allowing for the launch of new vegan meatballs. The funding round involved multiple investors, including Zintinus and Sparkfood, bringing the startup's total financing to €50M. The company's products, such as vegan bacon and ham, have seen a 192% increase in sales over the past year and are now available in over 8,200 stores across Europe. La Vie's expansion plans include launching its meatball range and investing in further product development and marketing efforts.

The investment will also enable the company to expand its footprint in France and the UK, with recent placements in Pizza Hut France and Sainsbury's stores. La Vie's success comes at a time when consumer preferences are shifting towards plant-based options, with reports indicating a decrease in meat consumption and a growing interest in plant-based alternatives. Additionally, a recent EU ruling allowing plant-based products to use meat-related terms on packaging further boosts La Vie's ability to market its vegan offerings.