Tyson Increases Investment in Vegan Brand Beyond Meat

Meat company Tyson Foods announced yesterday that it raised its holding by an undisclosed percentage in plant-based brand Beyond Meat. Tyson—the world’s largest meat producer—initially invested in the company in exchange for a five-percent stake in October and revealed this week that it participated in Beyond Meat’s most current investment round, which raised $55 million. On a recent North Carolina Public Radio show, Tyson CEO Tom Hayes explained the company’s strategy, stating that the meat giant is looking to support products that consumers want, which includes plant-based alternatives to meat. The company’s popular vegan burger, the Beyond Burger, launched in the meat department at a Colorado Whole Foods Market last year and, with the help of capital funding, recently hit the milestone of 5,000 points of distribution nationwide, including grocery chains Safeway, Krogers, and Stater Bros., along with nearly 500 locations of fast-food restaurant TGI Fridays.