It is going to use the funds to scale manufacturing, speed up European distribution and arrange its US operations.
Umiami advised FoodNavigator’s Protein Imaginative and prescient convention final yr that corporations on this class want a transparent angle to pitch to finish shoppers.
The B2B firm’s angle is that it could possibly replicate complete meat cuts with proprietary excessive moisture expertise.
Utilizing what it calls ‘umisation’ expertise, the corporate has developed a 100% plant-based product in fillet kind that mimics meat in each means (style, texture, color, juiciness, and so on.) with underneath 10 components and no texturing brokers or methylcellulose.
In August 2023, the corporate’s analogue rooster fillet turned accessible on the market in 165 Coop shops in Switzerland by way of distribution specialist FFF Recent & Frozen Meals, which selected to launch the product underneath the Umiami identify and never as a white label product.
Following its Swiss launch, Umiami has expanded its presence within the foodservice sector in a number of European international locations, together with Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy. It additionally plans to broaden into the US.
Jean-Philippe Richard, Deputy Director of the SPI fund, which led the most recent financing spherical, mentioned: “Due to its distinctive expertise, Umiami is providing an upmarket vary of plant-based fillets. It allows us to spice up reindustrialisation in France whereas enhancing the nation’s repute for agri-food experience internationally by way of the event of cutting-edge initiatives serving wholesome, traceable meals with a low carbon footprint.”
Matthew Sade, Enterprise Accomplice at Astanor Ventures, which participated within the financing spherical claimed Umiami has developed “a singular expertise and product line that delights shoppers and exceeds their expectations in a means that no different product available on the market does. Umiami’s rooster is clearly one piece of the puzzle to rushing the worldwide transition to a extra sustainable meals provide”.
Umiami’s new manufacturing unit in Alsace has capability of seven,500 tons per manufacturing line. The corporate plans develop its output to twenty,000 tons. The corporate can be supported by the federal government “France 2030” financial plan.
Jean-Philippe Richard, Deputy Director of the SPI fund, mentioned: “Due to its distinctive expertise, Umiami is providing an upmarket vary of plant-based fillets. It allows us to spice up reindustrialisation in France whereas enhancing the nation’s repute for agri-food experience internationally by way of the event of cutting-edge initiatives serving wholesome, traceable meals with a low carbon footprint.”
