Animal-free fat producer opens pilot plant

LONDON — Hoxton Farms, a company that produces animal-free cultivated fat, has opened a pilot plant in London. The new facility is 14,000 square feet and features cell culturing laboratories, a food development kitchen and office space.

“It’s no secret that the traditional meat industry is broken, but consumers are disappointed when they seek quality alternatives,” said Max Jamilly, co-founder of Hoxton Farms. “But as people turn away from meat because of concerns over health, environmental impact, or animal welfare, ‘flexitarianism’ is booming. Cultivated fat is the missing ingredient for creating irresistible meat alternatives, unlocking the delicious taste and experience of the real thing without the environmental or ethical impact.”

The new plant follows a £20 million ($24.4 million) Series A funding round in October 2022, led by Collaborative Fund and Fine Structure Ventures, with further investment from Systemiq Capital, AgFunder, MCJ Collective, and previous investors Founders Fund, Backed VC, Presight Capital, CPT Capital and Sustainable Food Ventures.

“The market for meat alternatives is forecast to reach $17.4 billion by 2027, but its uptake is being held back by the taste, smell and texture — it’s just not as good as the real thing,” said Jennifer Uhrig, senior managing director at Fine Structure Ventures. “Hoxton Farms is tackling this challenge head on, unlocking the power of biology to reduce the impact of meat production on animals and the environment, while also adding that much-needed sensory experience for consumers. Hoxton Farms’ ability to optimize cost, scalability and time to market also demonstrates it can deliver a commercially viable product to market incredibly quickly.”