Hormel Foods has partnered with Californian food tech start-up The Better Meat Co to bring products made using mycoprotein and other plant-based proteins to market.

The Better Meat Co is a business-to-business ingredients provider that produces animal-free protein via fermentation.

The partnership will see Hormel Foods’ venturing company 199 Ventures work with the food tech firm to develop sustainable alternative protein products using The Better Meat Co’s Rhiza mycoprotein ingredient.

Rhiza is a natural mycoprotein that is said to offer a meat-like texture, and more protein and iron than eggs and beef respectively. The ingredient is produced using a potato-based fermentation process pioneered by The Better Meat Co.

Commenting on the company’s latest venture in the plant-based space, Hormel Foods’ vice president of corporate development, Fred Halvin, said: “As a global branded food company, we understand our food culture is changing at a rapid pace and people are curious and willing to try great-tasting, plant-based proteins”.

“We are excited to work with The Better Meat Co team to continue to offer delicious and convenient mycoprotein and plant-based protein products.”

Doni Curkendall, executive vice president of operations at The Better Meat Co, added: “We’re proud to partner with Hormel Foods to unleash the power of fermentation to build an even more sustainable food supply. Hormel Foods has a deep bench of expertise in both animal and plant proteins, and we look forward to working together to bring our delicious mycoprotein to the world.”

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