JBS’s Planterra expects to add 100 jobs at new Lafayette HQ, R&D center

LAFAYETTE — Planterra Foods Co., a roughly two-year old JBS USA subsidiary that specializes in plant-based meat substitutes, has opened its new Lafayette headquarters and research and development center, which is expected to eventually house as many as 100 new employees. 

The company, which now has fewer than 50 employees focused on building its OZO protein alternative brand, is headquartered on Miner’s Drive. Planterra is also building out a manufacturing space in north Denver. 

“Colorado is open for business and this expansion will result in 100 new jobs,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a prepared statement. “We look forward to continuing Colorado’s reputation as one of the foremost agricultural producers in the world.”

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Planterra makes a variety of products such as burger patties and breakfast sausages from a blend of pea and rice protein fermented by shiitake mushrooms. 

“I am proud of the team we’ve built at Planterra Foods and look forward to a future of continued growth and innovation in our new space in Lafayette,” Planterra CEO Darcey Macken said in a prepared statement. “With a team full of passionate, problem-solving food lovers, I’m confident that Planterra Foods will continue to grow the world of plant-based [food] with the best-tasting foods in the market.”

Planterra expanded its distribution in June into Canada with an agreement with grocery distributor UNFI Canada. The company followed that up with expansions into Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

JBS’ major competitors, such as Tyson Foods Inc. (NYSE: TSN), Hormel Foods Corp. (NYSE: HRL) and Perdue Farms Inc., have all introduced their own plant-based meat brands in the past several years as the industry scrambles to diversify its offerings as companies such as Beyond Meat Inc. (Nasdaq: BYND) and Impossible Foods Inc. gain popularity.

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