Spain: Major meat companies take advantage of plant-based protein

Every day, products made from vegetable protein are gaining ground on a global scale, offering a promising future. This has led many of the largest Spanish meat processing companies to opt for what is a priori their antagonistic rival.

One of the last major meat companies to joint this trend has been Vall Companys, which has an annual turnover of more than 1.7 billion euros. Its main shareholders have created a specific company for meat alternatives made from vegetable protein, Zyrcular Foods.

A firm spokesman stated that its activity will be divided into three subsidiaries: one dedicated to distribution –marketing existing international brands-, another for production –which will also manufacture for other companies- and a research and design laboratory for Vall Companys and third parties products.

Campofrío is also not unaware of this trend, a company that expects this line of business - active since 2017 - to account for 10% of its turnover in the coming years.

In the same line as Noel Alimentación, which was the first to launch itself into this market.  This summer it has expanded its range with alternatives that imitate pork and chicken, with an investment of 1.3 million euros.

The exception in Spain, among the big, is ElPozo, although for a short time. Company sources have confirmed that they are already working on "different plant-based food options", a production line that they rejected out of hand in 2017.

Spanish companies also distribute their products abroad. Thus, Heüra Foods has just reached an agreement with Kale United to distribute its products in Scandinavia. And with the help of the Chilean supermarket chain Tottus, it will reach the Latin American market.

While last March, Unilever Food Solutions began marketing the brand The Vegetarian Butcher in Spain. Unilever Spain has more than 700 vegetarian and vegan products from brands such as Hellman's, Magnum, Knorr and Frigo.

According to the report “The Green Revolution” prepared by Lantern, 6.3% of Spanish consumers are flexitarian, 1.3% vegetarian and 0.2% are opting for the vegan diet. Together they made up about 3.6 million people.

Several sources