UK-based plant-based food company VFC Foods, which owns Meatless Farm, is separating from the Vegan Food Group (VFG), formed just two years ago.

Once independent, VFC and Meatless Farm will operate under the VFC Foods name, following VFG’s closure of its York offices to focus on its plant-based factory in Germany.

Co-founder Adam Lyons will return to oversee operations.

The move comes amid a wider reorganisation at VFG, which has also led to the closure of Clive’s Purely Plants Bakery in Dartmouth, Devon – a site that received £650,000 in investment just six months ago, including new production equipment.

Speaking to Green Queen, VFC and VFG co-founder Matthew Glover said: “Decisions were made in the interest of creating a permanent, profitable operation to produce and distribute sustainable plant protein across Europe. We’re excited about the future of Meatless Farm and the work of the team in Germany to manufacture and distribute high-quality plant protein products across Europe in the decades ahead.”

The closure of Clive’s Purely Plants Bakery and the York head office is said to have resulted in over 60 redundancies.

In reporting from The Grocer, the separation of VFC and Meatless Farm from VFG is set to be completed in the next few weeks, with Lyons, who exited the VFG in 2024, said to be returning in a ‘hands-on leadership role’

VFC Foods operates plant-based brands Vegan Fried Chicken and Meatless Farm, which it acquired in 2023, and is now in the process of becoming an independent entity.

Lyons launched the business in 2020 and left in 2024 following the merger with VFG. The business is now being funded jointly by Lyons and the Ahimsa Foundation.

Speaking to Green Queen, Lyons said: “My return is centred on stabilisation across operations, finance and commercial delivery. The business is now governed, funded and managed independently with clear accountability and direct leadership.”

The restructuring follows the VFC brand's withdrawal from shelves as the company prepares for product reformulation to address rising concerns around UPFs. Meatless Farm will continue to be stocked in UK supermarkets.

Lyons added: “We do not want to be part of the UPF problem; we want to be part of the solution. VFC will be repositioned and relaunched in 2027 with this ambition at its core.”

The Plant Base has reached out to the Vegan Food Group and VFC for comment.