Revolution in Memmingen: Planted opens Europe's most modern plant for meat substitutes!

Revolution in Memmingen: Planted opens Europe's most modern plant for meat substitutes!

A lot is happening in the food industry: The Swiss start-up Planted has opened a new production facility for plant-based meat in Memmingen, Bavaria. This facility is a real Swiss cheese when it comes to innovation - Europe's most modern production facility for biostructured proteins, producing over 20 tons of plant-based meat every day. This means that the new plant achieves the same capacity as the existing production facility in Kemptthal, Switzerland. Particularly exciting: The plants in Memmingen are not only intended for the domestic market, but also for Germany and other EU countries as well as Great Britain. The largest part, around 75% of production, is exported, with Germany being the main buyer. Swiss farmer reports on this clever expansion into the largest EU market, which Lukas Böni, co-founder of Planted, sees as completely obvious.

In the long term, around 50 new jobs in technical and operational areas are to be created at the Memmingen location. Planted benefits from a high availability of qualified specialists and a solid tradition in food production. In addition, there is an advanced infrastructure and excellent transport connections, which make it easier to transport raw materials quickly and efficiently. The proximity to the headquarters in Kemptthal Chile also promotes technology transfer - the best conditions for good business!

Environmentally friendly production

Ecology plays a central role at Planted: the production of the products, especially the “planted.steak” introduced in 2024, causes 97% fewer CO2 emissions and requires 81% less water compared to conventional beef. In this way, the company not only positions itself in the market, but also actively contributes to climate protection. More and more people in Germany are appreciating plant-based alternatives - in 2023, 17% more meat substitute products were produced than in the previous year. The decline in meat consumption in Germany shows that plant-based products are on the rise. Per capita consumption fell from 61 kg in 2012 to just 52 kg in 2023.

But why do consumers choose meat substitute products? According to surveys, it is primarily curiosity (69%) and taste (64%) that arouse interest. Animal welfare reasons also play a crucial role at 63%. Plant-based raw materials also have some advantages. Green Geeks and that agriculture point out that the production of plant-based raw materials is not only more environmentally friendly than that of meat, but also requires less land, water and fertilizer.

Consumers in transition

Another nice side effect: Many of the cultures required for meat substitute products can be grown regionally in Germany. Seitan made from wheat proteins and products made from soy, peas or lentils are very trendy. Even tastes are hardly an obstacle anymore: meat-free alternatives have greatly improved in taste and are now really close to the original. This is impressively reflected in the growth of the industry: the production of plant-based meat has more than doubled compared to 2019. This is shown by the demand – and not just for the indulgent Käsekrainer, but also for the environmentally conscious vegetable patty.

While the Planted company is setting new trends, consumers are also courageous in their decisions and are increasingly less interested in classic meat consumption. With a bold look into the future, one can say: Plant-based meat has the potential to sustainably change Cologne's gastronomy scene, not only with regard to the taste buds, but also to our environment!