SHANGHAI – Beyond Meat (Jiaxing) Food Co. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Beyond Meat Inc., is announcing plans to build a state-of-the-art production facility to manufacture plant-based protein products, under the Beyond Meat brand, in China. The facility will be located in the Jiaxing Economic & Technological Development Zone (JXEDZ) in Jiaxing city, southwest of Shanghai.

“Beyond Meat is building the perfect road to long term success in China,” said Micky Pant, senior advisor to Beyond Meat. “It has the confidence to set up dedicated, cutting edge production capacity via a wholly-owned subsidiary, located on the mainland close to Shanghai. The JXEDZ is a visionary and proactive partner with an excellent record in supporting the food industry.”

Beyond Meat is the first plant-based protein company to build a production facility in China.

“China is one of the world's largest markets for animal-based meat products, and potentially for plant-based meat,” said Ethan Brown, chief executive officer and founder of Beyond Meat. “We are delighted and confident that after several months of productive and collaborative discussions, we will partner with the JXEDZ to develop two production facilities, including one of the world’s largest and technologically advanced plant-based meat factories. We are very impressed by the capabilities and vision of the JXEDZ and they are the ideal partner for us in this vitally important country and market.”

Candy Chan, general manager for Beyond Meat in China added, “With its expertise in the food industry, proximity to Shanghai, and excellent logistics and people capabilities, the JXEDZ will be the perfect partner and location for our ambitious plans for the China market.”

The project is already underway and trial production is expected this fall. Full-scale production is scheduled to begin in early 2021.

“We are very happy to welcome Beyond Meat to our Economic Development Zone and to China,” said Sheng, director general of the Administrative Committee of the JXEDZ. “It is our vision to support high-quality investors in starting their ventures in China, and we are aligned with the vision of Beyond Meat to bring new, high technology food products that are nutritious and environmentally friendly to the Chinese market. We look forward to a long relationship and mutually beneficial partnership with this dynamic new age company.”