Food producer poised to serve up meat-free burgers following £1.5m investment

A plant-based food manufacturer says it is set to launch “Britain’s greenest burgers” following an investment of £1.5m.

MYCO’s plant-based protein, called Hooba, is produced from oyster mushrooms grown at the firm’s new production site in North Yorkshire.

The purpose built 20,000 sq ft complex at Leeming Bar is the only site in Britain where the protein is both farmed and produced under the same roof.

The burgers will be available to the trade by the end of March, following the seven-figure cash injection which has allowed the firm to move into full production.

Chairman John Shepherd said: “The investment is a real game-changer as it has allowed us to move full steam ahead with our full range.

“We are currently meeting with buyers and the initial noises are incredibly positive. The goal is a trade launch in March, followed by a national rollout in supermarkets across the UK over the course of the year.”

Having initially launched in Darlington, MYCO moved into its new unit in North Yorkshire last November, ahead of a scaling-up of the business which is expected to create 70 jobs over the next few years.

CEO David Wood added feedback on MYCO’s product confirmed the company’s belief that it can disrupt the plant-based market. 

“Our goal has always been to create a plant-based range that had the same mouthfeel as meat,” he said.