Meat Giant Vion Turns Beef Facility Into ‘Dedicated Plant-Based Site’

Dutch meat giant Vion has announced it will turn one of its beef processing facilities into a ‘dedicated plant-based site’. 

The facility was built in 2017 and adheres to the latest standards, which means it can be ‘easily adjusted to become suitable for plant-based production’. The site can be scaled up to add more production lines, freezing facilities, and larger storage capacity. 

‘Significant’ growth

“The capacity for livestock processing in the Netherlands has grown significantly in the past two years and has proven to be more than sufficient to meet the demand,” CEO Ronal Lottgerink said in a statement.

“Given the knowledge we gained from our investment a few years ago, we are now making the strategic choice to invest in a dedicated plant-based site in Leeuwarden.

Lotgerink also said it looks forward to welcoming ‘arable farmers as new suppliers in [its] plant-based chain’. 

Plant-based meat

Last month, Vion debuted its plant-based range ME-AT at the Anuga trade fair in Cologne – in response to the ‘growing’ demand for alternative proteins. 

 “The products will offer the taste, texture and eating experience of traditional meat,” Vion’s website states.

“ME-AT is, therefore, broadening the definition of meat, and focusing on the growing target group of future customers: the flexitarian.”