Vegetarian “meat” manufacturer Quorn opened its new mega factory in Billingham, Teesside in the UK this month, with the aim of doubling production of their core products to accommodate increasing customer demand for vegetarian and vegan meat alternatives.
The new site lays claim to being the largest meat-alternative production facility in the world and expects to deliver 1.33 million packages of Quorn every week — the equivalent of meat from 1600 cows.
The meat alternative industry is experiencing rapid growth, as consumers respond to both ethical and environmental concerns around its consumption. Quorn reports an impressive 15% in growth annually over the last few years and cite research that says the UK is the “most advanced meat-free market in the world.”
A report released earlier this year projected that market for meat substitutes will increase at the rate of 6.8% every year, and will be work 6.3 billion USD by 2023.
“Around the world we are seeing a significant increase in meat-reduction diets, including both flexitarianism and veganism,” says Quorn Foods CEO Kevin Brennan.
The company said that the new facility will enable them to further reduce carbon emissions — part of their core environmental sustainability commitment. They have already removed 297 tonnes of non-recyclable plastic from the supply chain and have pledged to use only 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging by 2025.
Although the UK is an important market for Quorn products, the US is also a key target market for the company.
Quorn products are produced from a mycoprotein derived from a kind of fungus grown by the process of fermentation. In many Quorn products, egg is a key ingredient; however, the company have introduced a vegan version and say they are committed to producing a wider range of vegan products in the future.
Quorn products are wonderful,and they delicious and you can do a lot of different recipes to do at home or buy.
Our family eats Quorn products a few times a week. Everyone should try these products…
We must all fight harder to save all animals from neglect and abuse. Spend one hour a day to save animals. They cannot voice their pain. We must speak for them.
This is a significant step forward in the production of synthetic meat products and will further develop the market of non-meat products for vegetarians. There is a huge and growing demand for synthetic meat products, because of animal welfare concerns in the animal meat industry, and any further development in this industry is very much welcomed.
Having gone vegetarian, I still miss having the occasional pork pie at lunch time. This is yet another area of synthetic meat that the industry should develop.
Hello they did do a pork pie pack before but we have not seen it recently,my husband loved them.
I didn’t realize they use egg in some of their products. 🙁 But it does my heart good to know that the meat alternative market is growing so fast. The founder of Tofurkey said the same thing in a Thanksgiving interview on NPR. In case you’re wondering, I came here from Pinterest.
Thanks for sharing this article.
If I was a livestock farmer, I would start looking for another type of work right now. The world is changing into a compassionate, ethical and environmental friendly core. It is slow but surely our children and their children will now live in a better world all around.
Just read some comments on here. It seems in the US and Canada Quorn isn’t that popular? relatively speaking. I live in the UK and I can’t remember the first time I tried it but it must be about 25 years ago, if I had to guess. Soya/tofu was a substitute before that, which still is of course.
I’ve never heard of Quorn causing allergies either, I wonder what the percentage of people who would be allergic to it is, it must be pretty low. Similar to other food allergies I guess. I’ve not noticed a warning on the packaging before but will look next time.
The ready made products are great. I mainly eat those. I’m no chef so can’t comment on the risotto situation.
Didn’t know Quorn contained eggs currently, but personally I eat free range eggs anyway. That’s a shame but it’s better than it being meat. I’ve known lots of meat eaters who say they could happily eat these products as substitutes and could hardly tell the difference . It’s a lot easier to turn vegetarian with these alternatives.
La comida vegana es muy cara en Argentina , y creo en todo el mundo por eso seguimos en muchos productos consumiendo algo que contiene animal desgraciadamente ! ej LA LECHE DE ALMENDRAS CARISIMA 1 LITRO $ 130 . Y ASI TODOS UNA PENA !!!!
I’ve been eating quorn products and loving them for a long time! I’ve never had any allergic reaction or digestive issues with it! Plus it’s yummy and tastes close to the real thing! I hope the price gets lowered to entice people to eat it! Right now, it’s cheaper to eat animal than to eat a plant sourced meat substitute or even vegetables! Yesterday at one store it cost $5 for a 10 lb pkg of chicken. A 9 oz pkg of veg meat costs $5. How can we get more people to eat vegan when animal is cheaper?! I salute you Quorn!!
While I am very happy to see this article, I’ve often picked up Quorn products at the store, but after reading their ingredient list I put them back on the shelf because they’re NOT vegan, so it’s nice to know that they are aware that they need to begin making more products w/o the eggs…then they will get more consumers like me eager to try their products! This isn’t rocket science…several companies like Tofurky, LightLife, Gardein all make fabulous vegan meat substitutes & those are the brands I’m going to continue to purchase until Quorn evolves.
FANTAUBLOUS! NEED MANY TO OPEN IN THE US ASAP
Can’t wait to try it. I hope it will be sold in Canada,
PURE AWESOMENESS!! THANK YOU U.K.
All Animal lives Matter! We do NOT need meat!
best thing I ever did was to give up meat. Lost lots of weight and feel fantastic.
Fantastic, we do not need to eat animals.
I love this news!!!!!!!!! I pray that more and more people go to vegetarian and/or vegan lifestyle! I’m a pescatarian and looking to go vegetarian and slowly transition to vegan. Having more meatless opportunities to purchase will facilitate this for anyone and everyone.
GOOD NEWS — I hope VEGAN market continues to grow throughout the world.
This is truly wonderful news. Thank you so much.
I cannot believe four men or I should say bastArds gang raped a poor presouis innocent dog!! I pray they are found and put in prison!! To the dog run free now baby that You are in heaven!!
Hello Luana I hate scum who hurt animals they will get it back for what they done to that beautiful dog,sign petitions and help precious animals and people.Happy meat free Christmas.
Hello Luana,
I hate scum who hurt animals they will get paid back,sign petitions to help animals and people,Happy meat free Christmas.
Oh great news! The more alternatives to meat ,the more people will be inclined to veganism. I am so pleased to read this. Flood the supermarkets with meat alternatives.
This is fantastic. I know some people are complaining but at least Quorn are making a huge effort to go meat free on a large scale. If they can just sort the egg situation out then it will be fantastic.
Hopefully other companies will run with their baton and – with fingers crossed – meat factories and the torturous killing of sentient beings will be at an end.
Thank you Quorn. They might not mix into a risotto very well, but I’d rather that than knowing the last thing the food on my plate did was shake in fear and scream in agony.
I wish they would open a branch in Jamaica.
I wish they would open a branch in Jamaica 🙂
It’s a shame Quorn contains egg. If more people knew that baby male chicks are minced ALIVE or suffocated in bin liners simply because they don’t lay eggs and are surplus to requirements, I’m sure there would be quite an outcry and companies would be seeking to make more vegan food.
BTW – Quorn’s vegan food is OK but the pieces are so soft they break up in any any risotto, curry or casserole type dishes.
Fantastic.
Great made my day
BLESS YOU PEOPLE ETERNALLY FOR PRACTICING COMPASSION. THIS IS THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD.
Great, but what about those of us on restrictive diets|?
A lot of the Quorn products still contain wheat and not every tolerates the mycoprotein used in the food. Even Quorn states on their website, that some people are sensitive to their products.
Although it is a good step in the right direction for animals, a lot of businesses still have a long way to go to cater for everyone with food allergies, who also want to give up animal products /meat.
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT NEWS.
Whatever your thoughts on Quorn products, this huge factory is a move away from a carnivorous diet and will prevent so much suffering for animals that it can only be viewed as a positive thing. If it starts meat eaters on the journey to plant based eating then I can only view this news as something to celebrate.
Couldn’t agree more, every step in the right direction, even the smallest step is good, and this is a huge leap. It all helps to normalise the thought of not eating meat and makes an easy step for people wanting to become vegetarian but not knowing how to start. BTY I have a wheat allergy so can’t eat their products but still whole wholeheartedly applaud them.
great news for animals but also for us vegan
So good to hear this wonderful news!!!
This is good as cows suffer so much abuse at factory and “family” farms! But the fungi protein may cause
allergic reactions it says on box so scares some people. They need to come up with a better vegan protein.
I agree, Judy. I won’t touch Quorn products because of the nasty (gastric) side effects. I admire their commitment to non-meat alternatives, but, as you stated, find a different source, please.