The Future of Food: Beyond Meat Is Changing the Way People Eat Why founder Ethan Brown is creating an ethical and sustainable food revolution, powered by plants.
By Kristen Aldridge •
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The night before Beyond Meat Founder and CEO Ethan Brown met with Bill Gates, his credit card was declined at his hotel. His plant-based meat company was on the precipice of success, and Gates would later become a key investor, but at that moment, Brown wondered where he would sleep.
Brown and Beyond Meat have come a long way since that night. The company had one of the most successful IPOs of 2019, and its game changing products are sold in approximately 77,000 stores in more than 65 countries worldwide. Its healthy and delicious Beyond Breakfast Sausages are available in Dunkin' Donuts (offering more protein and iron, 44% less saturated fat, 50% less total fat, 37% less sodium and no cholesterol when compared to the traditional pork sausage patty). A recent pilot program of Beyond Fried Chicken at KFC ran out in five hours.
Constant innovation remains the company's key to success. "If you're chasing us, you're chasing a ghost, because we've moved on," says Brown.
Brown saw the perfect opportunity with the plant proteins used in Beyond Meat products. Requiring 93 percent less land than traditional cattle farming, these meat alternatives would generate higher returns for farmers while cutting down on the significant environmental impacts of livestock.
With the taste and texture of real meat, Beyond Meat products target consumers who want to enjoy their favorite foods in a more ethical and sustainable way.
"We can be the generation of people that's separating meat from animals," Brown says. "I try to keep that at the forefront of everything we do."
Beyond Meat has recently announced their impactful "Feed A Million+" campaign, in which over 1 million Beyond Burgers will be donated and distributed to food banks, frontline workers and organizations in need over the next 30 days.
"We are dedicated to making sure those who need it most right now have access to a good, nourishing meal at no cost," Beyond Meat said on social media.
In this episode of How Brands Are Born, see how Brown is creating an ethical and sustainable food revolution, powered by plants.
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