USA – Eat Just, a San Fransisco-based foodtech company has announced a partnership with Micheael Foods, a subsidiary of Post Holdings and one of the largest processors of value-added eggs to expand its plant-based Just Egg in the United States.
Under the arrangement, Michael Foods will be the exclusive manufacturer, supplier and distributor of Just Egg to foodservice and food ingredient customers, a deal that further solidifies its grip in the plant-based food market after a recent partnership with Germany-headquartered Emsland Group.
“We are excited about this new partnership,” said Mark Westphal, President of Michael Foods.
“Eggs will continue to be a nutritious and affordable staple in America’s diet, and JUST’s plant-based egg products offer a great complement to our value-added eggs by allowing customers to serve every consumer their preference. Working together, we are bringing innovation and options to the food industry.”
Also commenting on the partnership, Josh Tetrick, Co-Founder and CEO of JUST said: “For over 100 years, the Michael Foods family of businesses have leveraged quality ingredients and cutting-edge processes to offer the finest products and solutions to their customers.
“This partnership adds an innovative new product to their impressive portfolio. Signing this partnership is one of the proudest moments in our company’s journey to build a better food system.”
The announcement comes on the heels of Just’s December acquisition of of a 30,000-square-foot factory in Appleton, Minnesota that specializes in patented protein extraction methods for JUST Egg.
In March this year, the company announced several globe-spanning partnerships across North America, Latin America, Europe and East Asia to manufacture and distribute its mung bean-based egg.
JUST Egg comes in two formats: a pourable liquid perfect for scrambles, omelets, quiches, stir-fries and a wide variety of baking applications; and a fluffy, pre-baked folded egg patty, ideal on top of toast or inside a breakfast sandwich.
Its key ingredient is protein derived from mung beans, a legume that has been cultivated for thousands of years and is a dietary staple in Asia. Just says that the ingredients use 98% less water, 86% less land and emit 93% less CO2 than conventional animal sources.
According to the company, the product is also cholesterol-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, Kosher certified and is packed with as much protein as many other plant and animal proteins.
Just has recorded significant growth in the recent past, especially after it launched with leading U.S. retailers and grocers such as Walmart, Kroger, Whole Foods, Safeway, Albertsons, Giant, Wegmans, Publix and online via Amazon and Fresh Direct among others.
At a top five retailer, the company says that its sales velocity has quadrupled since its debut, and in Grocery, velocity has grown 51% since December with large gains at top national chains.
The company says the demand for Just Egg has been accelerated by an increasing and more recent awareness of the necessity to build a food system that is safe, stable and healthier.
