Vivera has announced a €30 million investment to double the size of its Dutch facility and the production of its plant-based food. The investment – which will be made over the next three years – marks Vivera’s efforts in scaling up its production in response to the rising demand for vegan and vegetarian foods. Through ramping up its production capacity, Vivera aims to boost its international growth and entry into the foodservice channel. As a result of the expansion, the company also expects to triple its turnover in the next five years. The announcement also coincides with the Dutch meat alternative manufacturer’s 30th anniversary. Founded in 1990, Vivera currently offers a wide portfolio of meat alternatives such as meat-free burgers, steak, mince, chicken replacements and ‘bacon’ pieces. These are currently stocked in 27,000 supermarkets across 25 European countries. Previously, the company also produced both frozen and chilled meat products alongside its vegetarian and vegan range. However in 2019, Vivera Foodgroup divested its meat company Enkco to Van Loon Group which enabled it to focus solely on plant-based products. “The switch from animal products to plants isn’t just a passing trend, it’s a major change in how people around the world are choosing to eat, and in the values and identity they hold. Plant-based eating is now the new normal, as consumers realise that life is better when you eat less meat,” said Willem van Weede, CEO of Vivera. He added: “I’m pleased to say that our company has made this important change too, and with the additional €30 million investment we have announced today, we will be able to double our factory size. Our overall aim is to help consumers switch more easily to plant-based diets, in order to make diets healthier, food production greener and save animal lives.”